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England cricket captain Ben Stokes etched his name into cricketing folklore by becoming only the fifth captain in Test history to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same match. Stokes achieved this rare feat during the ongoing fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester, showcasing his all-round brilliance once again.
On Day 4, Stokes produced a gritty batting performance, scoring his 14th Test century with a well-timed boundary off Mohammed Siraj, his first triple-figure score in more than two years. Earlier in the match, the England skipper had delivered an impressive five-wicket haul (5 for 72), putting his team in a commanding position with the ball in hand.
This achievement placed Stokes alongside legendary captains Denis Atkinson (1955, Bridgetown), Garry Sobers (1966, Leeds), Mushtaq Mohammad (1977, Port of Spain), and Imran Khan (1983, Faisalabad).
Captains to score a ton and a five-wicket haul in the same test
Denis Atkinson - vs AUS - 1955 - Bridgetown
The former West Indies captain was the first player to achieve the feat of scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in the same test match as a captain. Against the mighty Aussies in Bridgetown in 1995, Atkinson first scored a double ton (219) in the first inning while batting and then took 56/5 with his medium pace off-cutters.
Garry Sobers - vs ENG - 1966 - Leeds
Probably the greatest all-rounders in cricket, Sir Gary Sobers became the second captain to achieve this milestone in his career. Against England in 1996 in Leeds, the West Indies captain scored 174 in the first inning with the bat and then went on to take 41/5 with the ball.
In the second inning, West Indies asked England to follow on, and Sobers took 3 wickets in the second inning as well.
Mushtaq Mohammad - vs WI - 1977 - Port of Spain
Former Pakistani captain Mushtaq Mohammad was the first Asian captain to score a test century and take a five-wicket haul in the same test match. Muhstaq, in the 1977 tour of Pakistan in Port of Spain, scored 121 in the first inning against the likes of Andy Roberts and Joel Garner.
He then picked up 28/5 with this leg spin. Mushtaq also took three wickets in the second inning.
Imran Khan - vs India - 1983 - Faisalabad
One of the greatest captains of cricket history, Imran Khan, was equally good with both bat and ball in hand. The former Pakistani legend first took 98/6 in the first inning of the Faisalabad test against India in 1983.
Then with the bat, he scored 117 in just 121 balls batting at no. 7. In the second inning, he went on to take another five-wicket haul as Kapil Dev's 7-wicket haul was not enough to save the match for India.
Pakistan won the test match by 10 wickets.
Read Also | Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests
Ben Stokes - vs India - 2025 - Manchester
Ben Stokes replicated Imran Khan's record to become the fifth player to achieve this milestone. During the 4th test in Manchester against India in 2025, Ben Stokes first took 72/5 with the ball to halt India's innings.
And then, even with the pain, where he had to retire hurt once, Stokes scored his 14th test ton to take England's score over 650. He finally got out on 141 while going for a big shot against Ravindra Jadeja.
Not only that, he became only the third player in test history to take 200+ test wickets and score 7000+ test runs alongside Jacques Kallis and Garry Sobers.