Ben Stokes has become the 16th man to play 100 Tests for England but few have produced such a list of iconic moments.
From Headingley 2019 to the 258 in Cape Town, a maiden century in Perth to that catch at Trent Bridge.
We have picked a top 10 of Stokes’s best moments in an England Test shirt.
Look back below and then somehow try to rank them…
First century in Perth
Let’s start back at (almost) the beginning. The 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia is best known for the hosts’ 5-0 victory and the disintegration of a once great England side.
But a 22-year-old Stokes scored England’s only century in that series in only his second Test – a defiant 120 against Mitchell Johnson and co.
Fastest century at Lord’s
Fast forward 17 months and Stokes had not fully established himself in the side despite his early success. He had been pushed down to number eight in the order and dropped in the summer of 2014.
But, at start of the 2015 summer, he was selected as England’s number six and responded by smashing the fastest hundred at Lord’s in the first Test against New Zealand.
He also scored 92 in the first innings, took three wickets – including Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum in consecutive balls – and was given a Marlon Samuels-style salute from Joe Root on the Lord’s balcony.
That Ashes catch
Stokes has starred in the field too. His most famous such moment in Tests was his remarkable catch to dismiss Adam Voges off the bowling of Stuart Broad in the fourth Ashes Test of 2015.
The ball was behind Stokes at fifth slip but he stuck out a right hand and clung on as a wide-eyed Broad took 8-15 en route to England regaining the urn.
The devastating 258 in Cape Town
Still Stokes’ highest Test score, England’s fastest double century and the second-fastest anyone has reached 200 in Test history.
In January 2016, Stokes destroyed South Africa’s bowling attack by scoring a sensational 258 from 198 balls, with 30 fours and 11 sixes.
Headingley 2019
One that needs no introduction.
England’s 2019 Ashes hopes were fading at Headingley. They needed 73 to win when last man Jack Leach joined Stokes at the crease to keep the series alive. Stokes almost singlehandedly dragged them over the line.
He scored an epic 135 not out in a stunning assault, having started by taking three from his first 73 balls.
Bowling England to victory in Cape Town
Stokes’ greatest moment with the ball for England?
Deep on the fifth day of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, Stokes provided one of those energy-defying spells to take the final three wickets as England won with 8.2 overs to spare.
Windies downed in Manchester
In the Covid-19 bio-bubbles of 2020, Ben Stokes scored his second-highest Test score of 176 in the second Test against West Indies at Old Trafford.
Having been promoted to open in the second innings as England looked for quick runs and a declaration, he smacked 78 not out from 57 deliveries while he also took three crucial wickets in a superb all-round performance.
Bazball begins
Stokes first led England as full-time Test captain on 2 June 2022 against New Zealand and made quite the start.
He signalled his ultra-aggressive approach by having five slips in place on the first morning at Lord’s, with England going on to chase down 277 in style for victory thanks to Joe Root’s unbeaten century – the first of many thrilling chases under Stokes’ captaincy.
Raid on Rawalpindi
England fans have got used to special wins under skipper Stokes, with perhaps the most memorable coming in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.
On the flattest of pitches, Stokes produced a masterclass of field-placings, bowling changes, aggressive tactics and a bold declaration to conjure up a win for the ages as the sun set on the final day.
Fiery 155 against Australia
Stokes’ 155 against Australia at Lord’s in the 2023 Ashes may have ultimately come in a losing cause but it was still a remarkable effort.
After Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping by Alex Carey, Stokes flogged the Australian bowling, hitting nine sixes, in a hostile atmosphere for the visitors.
He was finally dismissed by Josh Hazlewood and Australia won by 43 runs.
Now comes the hard part. Rank these Stokes moments below and share your list on social media.
