England captain Ben Stokes bagged a massive record with his terrific spell of 5/23 against Australia in the opening Ashes Test at the Optus stadium. After the visitors had been bowled out for a total of 172 earlier on Day 1, their bowlers helped them get back into the game thanks to a stellar display. After both Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse picked up two scalps each, Stokes also decided to join the party.
He alone went on to decimate Australia's middle and lower-middle order, dismissing the likes of Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. What is even more impressive is the fact that he got these wickets in just six overs. Thanks to his incredible bowling effort Australia could only manage to put up a total of 132 on the board before being bundled out, taking a lead of 40 runs.
Stokes joins an elite list of ENG captains
This was the third-fastest fifer ever taken by an English bowler in Test cricket and the best bowling figures ever recorded by an England skipper against Australia. Stuart Broad is the only England bowler ahead of Stokes on the former list as he has completed five-wicket hauls in just 19 and 34 deliveries.
Best bowling figures by England captains in The Ashes -
1. Ben Stokes - 5/23 (2025)
2. Gubby Allen - 5/36 (1936)
3. Johnny Douglas - 5/46 (1912)
4. Freddie Brown - 5/49 (1951)
5. Stanley Jackson - 5/52 (1905)
Stokes breaks 43-year drought for ENG
Stokes also became the first England captain in 43 years to pick up a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test. The last English skipper who had managed to do so was Bob Willis, recording figures of 5/66 in Brisbane back in 1982. This was Stokes' third fifer in the Ashes and his sixth in Test cricket overall. He now has 235 wickets under his belt in the format and will now be hoping to deliver with the bat too as the Three Lions look to post a massive target on the board for the Aussies in Perth.