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[Saba Sports News] Ben Stokes, England’s dynamic Test captain, is swiftly ascending in the ranks of the country’s cricket leadership. Recently, he achieved his 14th Test victory over India in Hyderabad on January 28, eclipsing Mike Atherton’s record of 13 wins. This milestone caught the playful eye of former England captain Nasser Hussain, who light-heartedly cheered for India in a social media response, acknowledging Stokes’ approach to his own record of 17 Test wins.
The current five-match Test series against India provides a backdrop for Stokes to potentially overtake Hussain’s mark. With England’s recent 28-run win in Hyderabad, they lead the series 1-0. The second Test in Vizag, starting on February 2, offers another opportunity for Stokes to edge closer to Hussain’s record.
Stokes’ focus, however, extends beyond personal achievements to the broader objective of England’s standing in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Despite three wins in the new WTC cycle, England is in eighth place on the points table, largely due to a 19-point deduction for a slow over-rate during last year’s Ashes. To reach the WTC Final, Stokes’ team needs to maximize points in their upcoming matches and maintain a faster over-rate. With only 29.17% of possible points from six Tests, England’s path to the WTC Final is challenging.
As the cricket world watches Stokes’ leadership journey, the ongoing series against India is crucial in shaping England’s fate in the ICC World Test Championship. The next chapter unfolds in the second Test at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.