Edgbaston, England: The nation's captain, Ben Stokes, delivered a remarkable performance, setting a new record for the fastest half-century in Test cricket for England, as his team secured a decisive victory over the West Indies, clinching a three-match series with a score of 3-0 at Edgbaston.
In a stunning display of all-round excellence, England emerged victorious, securing a whitewash in the series with a comprehensive win in Birmingham on Sunday. Stokes showcased his prowess by hitting a 24-ball half-century, leading England to chase down a target of 82 in just 7.2 overs.
This achievement marks the fastest Test fifty by an Englishman, ranking third on the list of fastest fifties in Test cricket history. The record for the fastest Test fifty belongs to Misbah-ul-Haq, who achieved it in just 21 balls against Australia in 2014.
The partnership between Stokes and Ben Duckett, which recorded an impressive 87 runs in just 44 balls, stands as the fastest fifty-plus run partnership in Test cricket history, with a remarkable run rate of 11.86 per over, surpassing the efforts of former players Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, who recorded a 50* (30) against Sri Lanka in Manchester in 2002.
This feat was accomplished in just 4.2 overs, setting a new record for the fastest Test innings in history.
Stokes also achieved the distinction of becoming the fastest scorer in Test cricket with at least 100 runs, maintaining his position at the top of the rankings, as noted by Wisden.
In the match, the West Indies, who won the toss and chose to bat first, managed to reach a score of 282/10 in their first inning. A standout performance from skipper Kraigg Braithwaite, who scored 61 runs in 86 balls, including eight fours, along with contributions from Jason Holder (59 runs in 112 balls, including six fours and a six) and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva (49 runs in 99 balls, including three fours) helped the West Indies to a strong start. Gus Atkinson, the leading wicket-taker in the series with 22 wickets, achieved this feat, marking the best tally by an England bowler in a three-match series since Ryan Sidebottom's 24 wickets against New Zealand in 2008. Atkinson's performance of 22 wickets is also the best in a three-match home bilateral series for an English bowler since Ian Botham's 24 wickets against New Zealand in 2008.
In their initial innings, England responded with vigor, despite facing a challenging start. As the opposition struggled at 54/5, a formidable partnership of 115 runs emerged between Joe Root (87 in 124 balls, including seven fours) and Stokes (54 in 69 balls, with five fours and a six), which played a pivotal role in stabilizing England's position. Subsequently, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (95 in 109 balls, notable for 12 fours and a six) and all-rounder Woakes (62 in 78 balls, notable for seven fours) contributed significantly, enabling England to surpass the West Indies' first innings score and secure a total of 376 all out, leading by a margin of 94 runs. Alzarri Joseph was particularly effective with the ball, taking four wickets for 122 runs.
In their second innings, the West Indies displayed minimal resistance, with Mikyle Louis achieving a half-century (57 in 95 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes), and Kavem Hodge (55 in 76 balls, notable for seven fours) contributing with another half-century. This partnership was ultimately dismissed for just 175 runs, setting England an ambitious target of 82 runs to chase.
