Ben Stokes’ latest tour de force has seen him rise to top spot in the International Cricket Council Test all-rounder rankings as well as a career-high third in the batting charts.
Stokes propelled England to a #raisethebat series-levelling 113-run victory over the West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford with a personal contribution of 254 runs and three wickets.
That has been enough to dislodge Windies captain Jason Holder after 18 months as Stokes became the first Englishman to take the number one spot in the all-rounder rankings since Andrew Flintoff in May 2006.
His 497 points is the highest accumulated by any all-rounder since South Africa great Jacques Kallis aggregated 517 in April 2008.
Supreme and altogether more contrasting knocks of 176 and 78 not out – the latter after opening the innings as England sought quick runs on the final day – led to Stokes rising six places in the batting ranks.
Only Australia batsman Steve Smith and India captain Virat Kohli sit higher in the order than Stokes, with England captain Joe Root dropping one spot to ninth.
Stuart Broad’s six wickets in the match on his England recall has meant a return into the top-10 of the bowler’s rankings. The Nottinghamshire all-rounder has risen four places to sit 10th in the standings.
