Ben Stokes Makes History with Five-Wicket Haul in Ashes Test

Historic Achievement for Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the fifth English captain to claim a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test held in Australia. This remarkable achievement occurred on the first day of the inaugural Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium. Stokes now joins the ranks of distinguished former England captains such as George Allen, John William Douglas, Frederick Brown, and Robert Willis.

Stokes' Impressive Bowling Figures

On Day 1, Stokes delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with figures of 5 wickets for just 23 runs in six overs, leaving Australia struggling at 123 for 9, still trailing by 49 runs behind England's first innings total. Alongside Stokes, Mitchell Starc also shone with the ball, taking seven wickets during the day's play.

Stokes' Bowling Prowess

Despite a disappointing outing with the bat, Stokes showcased his bowling talent by dismissing key Australian players including Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland.

Stokes' Career Statistics

As England's captain, Stokes has taken a total of 235 wickets across 116 matches, maintaining an average of 31.06, which includes six five-wicket hauls.

A Turbulent Opening Day

The first day of the Ashes Test was marked by a dramatic collapse, with a total of 19 wickets falling, the highest number recorded on the opening day of an Ashes match in the past century. England was bowled out for 172 runs in their first innings.

Innings Overview

In response to England's first innings total, Australia ended Day 1 at 123 for 9, with Nathan Lyon (3) and Brendan Doggett (0) remaining not out. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England faced a tough challenge as Starc's exceptional bowling limited them to 172 runs, with Harry Brook being the standout performer at 52 runs.

Match Summary

Match Summary: England: 172 (Harry Brook 52, Ollie Pope 46, Mitchell Starc 7/58) vs Australia: 123/9 (Alex Carey 26, Cameron Green 24, Ben Stokes 5/23).