In a historic feat during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, Ben Stokes made history in the Ashes series against Australia by hitting the most sixes in a single series during the fifth Test at The Oval. In the second innings, Stokes contributed with 42 runs off 67 balls, which included three fours and a crucial six, showcasing his powerful striking abilities.
His overall performance throughout the series has been exceptional, amassing a total of 15 sixes, surpassing the previous record held by Kevin Pietersen, who had set the mark at 14 sixes during the 2005 Ashes. Notably, this isn’t the first time Stokes has exhibited his prowess in clearing the boundaries, as he had already struck 13 sixes in the 2019 edition of the Ashes.
Ben Stokes showcasing his skills during the fifth Test at The Oval
Although he now holds the second-highest number of sixes in a Test series, the top spot belongs to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who hit an impressive 19 maximums during the series against South Africa in the 2019-20 season.
Throughout the ongoing Ashes series, Stokes has displayed his all-around brilliance, accumulating 405 runs in five matches across nine innings, with an average of 45.00. He also scored a century and two fifties, with a best score of 155. Despite his outstanding performance, Stokes ranks third in terms of overall run-scorers in the series, trailing behind Usman Khawaja (424 runs) and Zak Crawley (480 runs).
As for the match itself, England’s second innings are currently in progress, and they hold a substantial lead of over 300 runs. In their first innings, Australia managed to post a total of 295 runs, gaining a 12-run lead. Notable contributions from Steve Smith (71) and Usman Khawaja (47) steadied Australia’s innings at the top order.
However, aggressive knocks from skipper Pat Cummins (36) and Todd Murphy (34), featuring two fours and three sixes, helped Australia take the lead, building a crucial 49-run partnership. Stokes’ teammate Chris Woakes shone as the pick of the bowlers for England, securing three wickets. England’s first innings saw them being bundled out for 283 runs after being put into bat by Australia.
Harry Brook’s commendable 85-run innings, along with a significant partnership of 111 runs with Moeen Ali, brought some stability to England’s early slump at 73/3. Additionally, a valuable 49-run stand for the eighth wicket between Mark Wood and Chris Woakes contributed to England reaching a respectable first-innings score.
With Australia leading the five-match series 2-1, they have reclaimed the Ashes urn. However, England still has an opportunity to conclude the home series respectfully with a potential 2-2 draw.
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