Only captain to win a Test without batting, bowling and keeping wickets
A useful contribution is required from any player to win a particular match. Scoring runs, picking up wickets, or neat work behind the stumps are some of the crucial factors that help a player or a skipper in winning any game irrespective of the format. Though, England’s captain Ben Stokes created a unique record of claiming a victory without any of the above-mentioned efforts against Ireland recently.
After the completion of the T20 extravaganza of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the English summer got underway as Stokes and his side faced the Irish challenge in a one-off Test match that began on June 01, 2023, at the mecca of cricket, Lord’s in London. The match turned out to be a perfect opportunity for the home side to gear up for the all-important Ashes series beginning on June 16.
Skipper Stokes won the toss and elected to field first. The visitors got bundled out cheaply for just 172 in 56.2 overs. The hosts used only four bowlers with veteran Stuart Broad delivering another solid spell to outclass the Irish. He picked up figures of 5/51 with five maidens in 17 overs.
Spinner Jack Leach took 3/35 with two maidens in 14 overs while pacer Matthew Potts snared two scalps for 36 runs including four maidens in 12.2 overs. Debutant seamer Josh Tongue gave away 40 runs for zero wickets in his 13-over spell. In reply, England posted a mammoth total of 524/4d in their first innings courtesy of splendid knocks from Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.
Duckett registered his highest Test score of 182 off 178 with 24 fours and a maximum. Pope brought up his maiden double century (205) off 208 with 22 fours and three sixes. Earlier, opener Zak Crawley had got dismissed for 56 off 45 while Joe Root also smashed 56 off 59. Youngster Harry Brook remained not out on nine off seven with England declaring their innings in 82.4 overs. With this, Stokes didn’t get a chance to bat for his side.
The visitors showed a solid fight in their second innings as they reached a total of 362/9 in 86.2 overs. Andy McBrine, batting at no. 8, slammed 86 off 115 while Mark Adair, who batted at no. 9, scored 88 off just 76. The duo shared an outstanding 163-run stand for the seventh wicket but it wasn’t enough as Broad, Potts, Leach, and Root all picked up a wicket each while the standout performer was debutant Tongue who picked up a five-wicket haul. He delivered a memorable spell of 5/66 with two maidens in 21 overs. Again, Stokes didn’t roll over his arms with other bowlers doing the job.
England got a target of just 12 with Crawley hitting all the runs to seal a comfortable victory for his side. Stokes didn’t bat in the second innings either as his contribution in the game left only fielding. With this, he created a one-of-a-kind record of a captain winning the Test without batting, bowling or keeping.
