Stokes crunches 141 as England's lead over India passes 300

BBC News

26-07-2025

Update:
Date: 156.2 overs
Title: Eng 661-9
Content: Lead by 303 runs
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Stokes follows 'towering' six with reverse sweep four
A fine innings from the captain.
Classical cricket shorts interspersed with some entertainment, too.
Update:
Date: 12:31 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
England's other bowlers will have to turn up today, Ben Stokes looks in no shape to be rescuing the day again.
John, Newcastle
Update:
Date: 12:30 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
It is great to see Ben Stokes back in the runs, his ability to read the situations and change gears, you wouldn't want anyone else to play in this situation. He is very good at that. It's great for England that he's found his rhythm.
Update:
Date: 155.3 overs
Title: WICKET
Content: Stokes c Sudharsan b Jadeja 141 (Eng 658-9)
And out next ball attempting to repeat the trick...
Ben Stokes loses his balance ever so slightly to Ravindra Jadeja and it's more aerial off the toe end of his bat and Sai Sudharsan pouches the catch on the boundary at long-on.
Will that be the declaration...? Nope, Stokes turns to look over his shoulder on his way back to the dressing rooms and tells Brydon Carse to continue.
Update:
Date: 155.2
Title: Eng 658-8
Content: Fetch that!
Ben Stokes with a big swing of his bat and he dispatches Ravindra Jadeja for six over long-off.
Update:
Date: 12:27 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Do England specialise in genuine all-rounders more than other Test teams?
Neil, London
Update:
Date: 155 overs
Title: Eng 651-8
Content: The crowd are on their feet in the temporary stand singing along to the Great Escape. Plenty of folk in fancy dress, doubtless enjoying a few soft drinks before lunch.
A couple of singles and a leg-bye off Washington Sundar's latest over.
Update:
Date: 12:25 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
Ben Stokes has called for gloves after diving and his gloves would be full of dust but could this be a message from the dressing room to Stokes. You'd have thought that England would want India to bat before lunch but there's only 35 minutes left.
Update:
Date: 154 overs
Title: Eng 648-8
Content: Lead by 290 overs
Bryon Carse backs away to leg and wallops Ravindra Jadeja inside out over cover, but cannot quite middle it. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes is having a change of gloves. A message sent out from Baz to declare, perhaps?
Update:
Date: 12:20 BST
Title: How stat?!
Content: Jem GreenCricViz data analyst
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Bumrah breaks top of stump with Dawson dismissal
Early indications are showing this is the most variable bounce of any day of the series so far. PitchViz bounce inconsistency is currently 7.7/10 for today, the highest of any day.
(1 = highly consistent).
Update:
Date: 153.2 overs
Title: Eng 645-8
Content: This video can not be played
Stokes reaches century as England continue to punish India
Ben Stokes has been great to watch today.
Update:
Date: 12:19 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
As a 50-year-old England fan, I feel privileged to have lived through this period of arguably the very best English Test players. Joe Root with the bat, Ben Stokes as an all-rounder and Stuart Broad and James Anderson with the ball.
Steve, Kent
Update:
Date: 152.3 overs
Title: Eng 643-8
Content: Brydon Carse with the joy of six now, as he follows up a four off Washington Sundar with a big swipe across the line which just has enough on it to clear the boundary.
Update:
Date: 12:17 BST
Title: Post
Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician
A group of young boys play a game of cricket outside Old Trafford, ahead of the Ashes Test between England and Australia in 1964
Last time England scored 600 at Old Trafford, it was 1964 against Australia and Australia were 656-8 declared. England replied with 611, and Australia 4-0 in their second innings, with the match drawn.
Update:
Date: 12:16 BST
Title: Post
Content: Prakash WakankarBBC Test Match Special commentator
Ben Stokes on the charge, England really turning it on here with the lead at 273. Attack, defence, the reverse sweep and the lofted drive, that's what they say, isn't it, when you are getting runs, get as many as you can as there will be days when you can't buy one.
Update:
Date: 152 overs
Title: Eng 633-8
Content: This video can not be played
Stokes hits Jadeja for four and six in back-to-back deliveries
Ben Stokes then dismissively thwacks Ravindra Jadeja for a flat six over the boundary at cover. Plenty of entertainment for the Old Trafford crowd now.
Update:
Date: 12:15 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special
England have been ruthless in this innings and that's what has impressed me with a side that is evolving and learning, especially since there is plenty of experience in this squad.
Update:
Date: 151.3 overs
Title: Eng 625-8
Content: Ben Stokes misses the ball with a filthy slog, then makes a bit of a dog's dinnner of a reverse sweep.
He then rocks on to his back foot and plays a more orthodox biff through the covers for four.
Update:
Date: 151 overs
Title: Eng 621-8
Content: Lead by 263 runs
More histrionics from the ever-entertaining Mohammed Siraj during an over from Washington Sundar. He (needlessly) shies at the striker's end with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel not in position.
Overthrows bring England a couple more. Siraj holds his arms out in despair.
The wheels are coming off for India a little here.
Update:
Date: 12:12 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: England's highest totals in the last 10 years: