Stokes' Elite Feat
Ben Stokes Joins Elite Test All-Rounder Club with 250 Wickets and 7,000 Runs
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Key Points
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Nightwatchman Will O’Rourke had a lucky escape when his edge off Stokes bisected wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and first-slip Joe Root.
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Mitchell Santner's wicket came after a DRS review, with TV replays showing the ball flicked his glove before ballooning to Jacob Bethell in the gully.
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Stokes's first-innings figures were 4-70, contributing to England's pressure and revival in the Trent Bridge Test.
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Stokes returned to the side after a disciplinary hiatus for the second Test, alongside Gus Atkinson, following a breach of team discipline.
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Nottingham heat was described as one of the hottest days in England Test history, with Stokes delivering an eight-over spell under the conditions.
Ben Stokes has become only the second cricketer in history to score 7,000 runs and take 250 Test wickets, joining South African legend Jacques Kallis in one of sport's most exclusive clubs. Sky Sports reported that the England captain reached the milestone on the second morning of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, dismissing Mitchell Santner to trigger wild celebrations from his teammates.
Stokes now holds 7,228 runs and exactly 250 wickets in Test cricket, according to CricTracker. Kallis, the only other member of this club, finished his career with 13,289 runs and 292 wickets across 166 Tests. Stokes reached the mark in just 122 matches.
Stokes Sparks Collapse After Record NZ Opening Stand
New Zealand had looked dominant after openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway put on a record-breaking 317-run stand on day one, according to The Guardian. But Stokes changed the game on day two. Bowling in 36°C heat — one of the hottest days in English Test history — he delivered a relentless eight-over spell that helped England dismiss the last six New Zealand wickets for just 77 runs.
Stokes finished with first-innings figures of 4-70 from 21 overs, per Associated Press. His wickets included Daryl Mitchell, nightwatchman Will O'Rourke, and Mitchell Santner. New Zealand were bowled out for 438, a total that looked far worse after their blistering start. Stuart Broad on Sky Sports called Stokes's bowling "magical" and "tactical," adding: "He's all about moments... it's why he's so loved in the changing room."
The 250th Wicket Arrived With DRS Controversy
The milestone dismissal was not clean-cut. Santner was given out after a DRS review showed the ball had flicked his glove before looping to Jacob Bethell in the gully, according to Fox Sports. But Santner argued the ball hit his arm guard, not his glove. The catch sparked immediate debate about the quality of the officiating.
Analyst Kumar Sangakkara, cited by The Sunday Guardian, questioned why TV umpire Adrian Holdstock did not check more camera angles before ruling. "Taking the time to really analyze every angle" was warranted, Sangakkara said, given the significance of the moment. SportsTak also reported the ICC is reviewing footage of Stokes tapping Santner's wristband during the review — a gesture that could bring a Code of Conduct charge.
Nightclub Incident Hung Over Stokes's Return
Stokes's milestone came on his comeback after a one-match ban. He and bowler Gus Atkinson were stood down for the second Test following a late-night incident at a Chelsea nightclub after the first Test win at Lord's, according to 1News. A security staff member was reportedly struck during an altercation. The ECB concluded its investigation and dropped both players, naming Joe Root as interim captain.
England lost that second Test badly at The Oval, leveling the series at 1-1. Stokes publicly apologized to the squad before Trent Bridge, per CricTracker. His performance in the third Test — and Ben Duckett's century of 113 off 99 balls on day two — has gone a long way toward quieting the controversy.
Where Stokes Stands Among Cricket's All-Time Greats
Only a handful of players in history have ever combined elite batting and bowling at Test level. The "7,000 runs and 250 wickets" club now has just two members: Stokes and Kallis. A slightly broader group — those with 5,000 runs and 200 wickets — includes Ian Botham and Kapil Dev, according to cricblog.net. Stokes is now 9th on England's all-time wicket-taker list, just five behind Graeme Swann.
crictoday.com noted that Stokes is the ninth England bowler ever to reach 250 Test wickets. He reached the landmark 44 Tests faster than Kallis did. For a player who has battled injury and disciplinary trouble in 2026, the milestone cements his standing as one of the most complete cricketers of the modern era.
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