Manchester, UK – July 24, 2025: England captain Ben Stokes is in a remarkable run of form with the ball during the ongoing home Test series against India, achieving a new personal best for the most overs bowled by himself in a Test series.
On Day one of the fourth Test, Stokes delivered an impressive spell, finishing with figures of 2/47 in 14 overs. His crucial wickets included that of opposition skipper Shubman Gill for just 12 runs and the well-set Sai Sudharsan for 61. Stokes’s workload on the day was consistent, starting with a five-over spell, followed by a four-over spell, and concluding the day with another five overs.
While a significant score with the bat has eluded him this series (163 runs in six innings at an average of 27.16, with a top score of 44), Stokes has undeniably been England’s “miracle man” with the ball. He currently tops the wicket charts for England with 13 scalps at an average of 28.53 in seven innings, with his best figures being 4/66. So far in this series, he has bowled a monumental 119.0 overs, surpassing his previous Test series workload records. This new record eclipses his 116.5 overs against Australia in the 2013-14 Ashes series (in eight innings, away from home) and 116.2 overs (in eight innings) against India in the 2018 home series.
Raw statistics, however, barely capture the immense impact Stokes has had. His wicket tally might not always be the highest, but he has consistently put in the hard yards despite recent fitness setbacks that severely affected his hamstrings and knees at one point. His victims include high-profile top-order batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, and Sai Sudharsan, showcasing his ability to make crucial breakthroughs.
A fully fit Stokes, contributing decent numbers with both bat and ball relentlessly, bodes well for England as they prepare for the highly anticipated Ashes series against Australia this November away from home.
One of his most remarkable bowling performances this series came on the final day of the third Lord’s Test, where he bowled almost 10 overs on the trot, securing the vital wicket of KL Rahul. Bowling in tandem with Jofra Archer, they reduced India to 82/7 during a 193-run chase. Later, when Ravindra Jadeja and tailender Jasprit Bumrah were forging a resilient partnership, Stokes brought England back into the game by breaking their 35-run stand, which had seen Bumrah soak up 54 deliveries, allowing Jadeja some freedom to score. At Lord’s, he bowled a total of 44 overs and claimed five wickets. Coupled with his knocks of 44 and 33 and a stunning run-out of Rishabh Pant, he rightfully earned the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
At the close of Day one of the fourth Test, Team India stood at 264/4, with Shardul Thakur (19*) and Ravindra Jadeja (16*) at the crease. A major blow for India was Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt at 37 due due to a foot injury. Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (61 off 151 balls, with seven fours) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 107 balls, with 10 fours and a six) were the largest contributions to India’s total for the day.