Paceman Ben Stokes picked up the two remaining wickets in three balls as England won the thrilling first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong by 22 runs on the final morning to keep their perfect record against the Asian side intact. While England needed two wickets for their ninth Test win against Bangladesh in as many matches, the hosts also had the chance of a famous victory, requiring 33 runs when they resumed on 253 for eight.
It is a mark of the standards Ben Stokes sets that his first reaction to the wonder catch that dismissed to Andile Phehlukwayo was that he had got into the wrong position.
England captain Eoin Morgan has played down injury concerns for all-rounder Ben Stokes, who left field with a sore knee during Wednesday's comprehensive victory over South Africa.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has lambasted at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for calling back all-rounder Ben Stokes from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
The 26-year-old New Zealand-born Stokes was omitted from the England touring party to Australia for the Ashes and remains suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation into an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
Ollie Pope reckons England can make 600 Test runs in a day's play
'I remember the last Test series (home series against England) as well. We lost the first match and in the second match, Rohit Sharma single-handedly took India to a position from where you could not have lost.'
England's World Cup-winning all-rounder Ben Stokes says outside noise used to affect him in his younger days but now he pays no heed to it as he has realised that team and people around hold more importance.
Ben Stokes' participation in the Ashes would be an "absolute bonus" but England are preparing contingency plans after writing off the all-rounder for the series, coach Trevor Bayliss said.
Stokes, 27, was accused of knocking unconscious two men, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, in a brawl in Bristol, southwest England, last September just hours after he had played in a one-day international against the West Indies.
What set Stokes' innings apart was not just how he handled the responsibility as England's only hope of salvaging the series, but just how he built his innings over two days.
England won the first Test by 74 runs before grabbing a 26-run victory in the second to register their first series win in Pakistan since 2000-01, but Stokes said they will press to become the first Test team to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the first Test between England and the West Indies, at Lord's, London, on Thursday.
'The wicket was good to bat on, a lot of the batters got starts but didn't convert. This win gives us a lot of confidence. Very proud of such a young squad.'
The first Test is scheduled to begin on July 8 at the Ageas Bowl and Joe Root will leave England's training camp on Wednesday to be with his wife, Carrie, who is expecting their second child later this week.
Greg Chappell hails Harry Brook, compares him to Sachin Tendulkar in an ode to England's bright future
England cricket captain Alastair Cook says all-rounder Ben Stokes gives England the "X factor" and put his improvement down to the work he has done to play against spin. Stokes won man of the match for his performance in England's thrilling 22-run victory in the first test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. He took six wickets, including two in three balls to seal victory on the final day, and scored a crucial 85 runs in the second innings after England's top order collapsed on day three.
Ben Stokes' dismissal soured Australia's 64-run over England in the second ODI at Lord's on Saturday.
Urges others to step up in the all-rounder's absence
Big win against West Indies propel England past three teams in WTC table
Root stepped down last week, saying the job had taken a heavy toll on him recently, after dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean capped a string of poor results.
Ben Stokes is poised to lead the team in the first Test against West Indies on July 8 with captain Joe Root likely to miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants all-rounder Ben Stokes to work on taking his "unassuming" character beyond the cricket field as the player looks to rebuild his reputation.
Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson and England all-rounder Ben Stokes have been found not guilty of breaching the code of conduct despite clashing during the second Ashes Test, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.
Ben Stokes survived several scares but featured in a 76-run late afternoon partnership with Ollie Pope as England reached 224 for four wickets at close on the opening day of the third Test against South Africa on Thursday.
Root rescues England with controlled century in India
England are the first team to hold both the ODI and T20I World Cups at the same time.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was fined and given a demerit point by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday after a foul-mouthed row with a spectator on Friday in the ongoing fourth Test match against South Africa. He was fined 15 percent of his match fee and given a demerit point after being charged by the ICC with a level one offence of "use of an audible obscenity".
England all-rounder Ben Stokes felt very emotional yet satisfied after his brilliance helped secure a one-day international series-levelling victory against New Zealand on Wednesday in his second game back since being charged with affray.
With Ashwin absent from the Rajkot Test, India is forced to field only 10 players and four specialist bowlers.
England are desperate to win the final Ashes Test against Australia despite a series victory no longer being possible.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer got his maiden Test call up as he was included in England's squad for the Ashes series opener against Australia.
With ICC sanctions firmly in place, cricket has been losing character due to fear of penalty but there are still a few who can engage the crowd with their on-field skirmishes.
England might surrender the Ashes on the final day of the third Test at Perth but Ben Stokes laid down the template on Monday for their batsmen to follow if they are to take the fight to Australia in the remaining two Tests.
'In the past, the likes of Sam Curran and Chris Woakes have managed to come in... Both had a great series against India (at home) last time. We have managed without Ben before and, hopefully, we can do that again.'
England became the first Test team to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan after they won the third and final match by eight wickets in Karachi on Tuesday.
India's bid to win a 17th consecutive home Test series, however, hinges on the success of their three-pronged spin attack comprising Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
CSK now boast of the world's top three all-rounders in Stokes, Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja, who are all capable of winning games with both bat and ball.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and England at Visakhapatnam.
With the three-match Test series poised at 1-1 and the decisive third match, beginning here from Thursday, both the teams seemed to be unclear about the pitch's nature.
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