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The newly appointed England's Test skipper Ben Stokes made a resounding comeback by smoking five consecutive sixes to bring up his century in the County Championship season for Durham against Worcestershire at New Road on Friday (May 6). With this Stokes has broken the record for the most number of maximums in an innings in county cricket in his sensational knock of 161 runs off 88 balls. He smashed 17 maximums and went past Darren Stevens who had previously held the record with 15 sixes for Kent against Glamorgan in the 2021 season.
Stokes took just 64 balls in his blitzkrieg ton in his first appearance in the tournament. He belted Worcestershire's left-arm spinner Josh Baker for five sixes in succession to bring up his ton and then another four to end an eye-watering 34-run over for the 18-year-old bowler. He only fell short of completing a full haul of sixes for the over by following up with another blast that dropped short of the boundary before going away for four.
Stokes' knock was also the fastest century in Durham's history as the side solidified their position in the match declaring at 580/6.
It's the 30-year-old's first match since being named at Root's successor and he starred at Worcestershire on day two of the County Championship.
Stokes came out to bat at the number six position after revealing his desire to play at that position for England following his appointment as Joe Root's successor. "I am going back to number six I know I am at my best for England when I am doing both roles [batting and bowling] as much as the other.
"I personally feel that going back to No.6 is going to allow me to concentrate on those roles as much as the other, rather than worry about one while I am doing the other. I feel that's best for the team," Stokes was quoted saying by The Cricketer.
Earlier Stokes had withdrawn from IPL mega auctions after a disastrous tour to the West Indies as he wanted to focus on the longer format of the game. Stokes bowled the most overs in a series than he had done ever before.
This innings of his will give him a lot of confidence going ahead in the summer as he prepares himself to captain the England side against top international sides which include, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
