On This Day: Stokes masterclass, Bumrah & Anderson creates history

For a variety of reasons, August 25th in test cricket is a significant day. Ben Stokes’ batting performance on this day in 2019 will go down in cricket history and in the memories of every lover of the game. On the same day, Jasprit Bumrah achieved a personal milestone away from home and contributed to India recording their largest run-wise away victory. Another fast bowler in the following year, in 2020, achieved a milestone. James Anderson became the first seamer to record 600 test wickets. The fourth bowler to accomplish this accomplishment was him. Here is a list of the accomplishments from August 25.

Ben Stokes does the unthinkable

England broke a record that has stood for more than 131 years thanks to Stokes’ 135* runs. By successfully chasing 359 in the fourth innings after being 67 all out in the second, they won the Battle of Headingley, Leeds by just one wicket. For the first time in 131 years, a side won a test match with fewer than 70 runs scored in the opening innings.

Warner and Labuschagne: Lone warriors for Australia

In the 2019 Ashes, David Warner scored in double digits for the first time ever. Prior to the third test at Headingley, he won two games with scores of 2, 8, 3, and 5. He not only scored in the double digits in the opening innings, but he also turned his start into a half-century. Warner scored 61, and Marnus Labuschagne, who made his debut as Steven Smith‘s first concussion replacement in the previous test, helped him out. 74 runs were scored by Labuschagne in the first innings. Australia’s total of 179 runs was made possible by Warner’s 61 and Labuschagne’s 74 runs, as well as 13 extras. Jofra Archer made the most of the favourable pace-friendly conditions, taking 6 wickets in 17.1 overs. 

England batters register 9 single-digit scores

England’s hitters let their bowlers down as they could only chase down Australia for 179 runs because they were unable to get going. Joe Denly, the fourth-ranked batsman for England, scored the highest total. Denly scored 12 runs, making him the only English batter to reach that mark. The domestic side struggled at the plate, scoring only 67 runs, giving Australia a commanding lead of 112 runs. Josh Hazlewood grabbed four wickets for Australia in his 12.5 overs and Pat Cummins and James Pattinson each claimed three and two wickets.

Labushagne shines once again for Australia

For the second time in the game, Labuschagne was in charge of saving Australia. Warner was removed for a duck in the first innings after scoring an excellent fifty. Batting at position four, Lbuschagne scored 80 runs, with Matthew Wade scoring the next-highest total. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head each scored 25, and Wade scored 33 runs. Australia reached a total of 246 thanks to Labuschagne’s half-century and few contributions from other batters, setting an English target of 359 for England. Stokes got three wickets for England, while Archer and Stuart Broad both claimed two.

Ben Stokes becomes the ‘Hero of Headingley’

Australia was able to get one hand on the Ashes urn after taking two quick wickets from the English openers during the innings. Joe Denly and Joe Root, the captain, put up a 126-run partnership for the third wicket. After only 18 runs, Root and Denly were both swiftly out of the game. England required a partnership once more since Jonny Bairstow and Stokes were on the crease. For the fifth wicket, they put up an 86-run partnership after Bairstow was sent out by Hazlewood. England advanced to 286 for the loss of nine wickets from 245 with the loss of five wickets. When England’s number 11 batter, Jack Leach, stepped up to the plate, they still needed 73 runs to catch Australia’s total. 

Stokes launched a brilliant and well-planned attack, at one point reverse-slog-sweeping Nathan Lyon for six, while Leach remained at the wicket for an hour waiting for one crucial run. Although there were a few nervous moments when England required two runs to win, Stokes’ innings was generally risk-free. After Nathan Lyon missed a straightforward opportunity to run Leach out, Stokes was able to avoid an appeal for lbw because Australia had used up their last review in the previous over. Stokes’ four-run inning gave the home team a historic triumph. 

India recorded their biggest away win (in terms of runs)

Ben Stokes’ valiant victory at Headingley occurred on the same day when India utterly destroyed their adversaries, the West Indies. After half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and a 40+ score from KL Rahul, West Indies did well to hold India to just 297 in the first innings. 

West Indies scored 222 runs in the second inning, virtually erasing the deficit. Due to Ishant Sharma‘s five-wicket haul, no West Indies batsman was able to reach a half-century. 

Virat Kohli struck a half-century in the third innings, but Rahane and Hanuma Vihari were the stars of the show. Rahane scored 81 runs in the first inning and then went on to score 102 runs in the third inning to reach the triple digits. While Vihari was dismissed for 93 runs, he was denied a well-deserved century. 

Jasprit Bumrah takes a 5-wicket haul

As the first Asian bowler to take five wickets in Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, Jasprit Bumrah made history. In just his eleventh test, he set this record. Bumrah finished off his 5-wicket haul in just 8 overs, as Ishant and Mohammed Shami each claimed three and two wickets. As a result of West Indies being dismissed for only 100 runs, India earned their largest run-recorded victory away from home, defeating the host team by 319 runs.

James Anderson ages like fine wine

James Anderson became the first fast bowler to take 600 test wickets just a year after Stokes’ heroics at Headingley. Stuart Broad, who recently retired, is the only other bowler to join Anderson on the list. Azhar Ali, a victim from Pakistan, was Anderson’s 600th victim over the longest format.