England talisman Ben Stokes has completed 250 wickets in Test cricket, achieving the milestone during the second day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Stokes dismissed Mitchell Santner (4) off the final delivery of the 101st over to become ninth from his country to take 250 or more wickets in the format.
By doing so, Stokes became the first England all-rounder to complete the double of 250 wickets and over 7,000 runs in Tests. Overall, he’s just the second cricketer in the format’s history after the legendary Jacques Kallis to do so.
Kallis, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game, scored 13,289 runs and took 292 wickets in 166 Tests for South Africa between 1995 and 2013.
Stokes is back leading England after missing the second Test due to off-field reasons.
Stokes and England teammate Gus Atkinson broke team curfew following their win in the series opener. The two were involved in an altercation with a rugby player which turned physical, resulting in a security official getting injured.
Both Stokes and Atkinson didn’t play the second Test, which England, having given debut to three players, lost by 253 runs.
The duo was investigated and let off with a warning.
Stokes said he has apologised to his teammates.
