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JE Sports Desk:  England skipper has continued his brilliance with the bat as he joins an elite list after yet another remarkable display of batting on the second day of the third Ashes Test against Australia in Headingley.

Stokes forced the crowd to recall his 2019 heroics as he smashed an 80-run knock, a vital contribution that helped his team close in on Australia's first innings total of 263 runs. His masterclass saw him reach 6000 runs in Test cricket as he became the only third player in the history of the format to score 6000 runs and take 100 wickets.

 

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The all-rounder is only behind the legendary names of Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis.

Players to score 6000 runs and take 100 wickets in Tests:

1. Sir Garfield Sobers (8032 runs, 235 wickets)

2. Jacques Kallis (13289 runs, 292 wickets)

3. Ben Stokes (6008 runs, 197 wickets)

The 32-year-old has been the flag bearer for England's new 'bazball' brand of cricket in Tests since being appointed the captain as he is regarded to be the best all-rounder in modern-day Test cricket not only for England but arguably in the World.

 

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Moeen Ali reaches 200 wickets


Moeen Ali was the key to providing a couple of late but massive blows to the visitors to keep his team in contention.

In his seventh over of Australia's second innings, Ali first dismissed Marnus Labuschagne who found Harry Brook at deep mid-wicket to register yet another failure after getting a start of 33 runs. The off-spinner got another success in the very next over when he got the better of Steve Smith to claim his 200th wicket in Test cricket.

The visitors would have been right on top had the duo of Marnus and Smith stayed at the crease at the end of the second day but still have an advantage at the moment in the match with a lead of 142 runs and plenty of batting to come.

Ali is only the third spinner for England to bag 200 wickets in the longer format, only behind Derek Underwood (297 wickets) and Graeme Swann (255 wickets).

The all-rounder made a return to the team for the third Test after missing out on the Lord's Test due to a finger injury he suffered in the first Test at Edgbaston.