Stokes Retires Hurt as Root Makes History in Dominant England Display
Well, what a day it's been at Old Trafford in the fourth Test between England and India. The headlines are dominated by one man—Joe Root—who continues to defy cricketing limits. But there's a subplot that’s got everyone talking: Ben Stokes retiring hurt after a gritty innings of 66. Thankfully, it’s been confirmed that it was just cramp and nothing more serious, which is a huge relief for England fans.
Let’s start with Root, though. He not only scored his 38th Test century but also became the second-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, surpassing Ricky Ponting. That’s right—only Sachin Tendulkar now sits above him. Root finished on a sublime 150 before he was stumped by the sharp hands of Dhruv Jurel off a brilliant delivery from Ravindra Jadeja. It was one of those rare moments where even the crowd, who had been in full voice all day, fell silent for a second before rising in another standing ovation. That was Root’s SIXTEENTH score of 150 or more in Tests. Let that sink in. Sixteen!
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Now, Ben Stokes—he looked like he was building something big. He battled hard, reached his first Test fifty of the summer, and looked increasingly settled at the crease. But signs of struggle became visible as he started cramping. A few attempted shots left him visibly uncomfortable, and eventually, he made the tough call to retire hurt on 66. Not something we’re used to seeing from the usually iron-willed Stokes, but perhaps a sign that he’s maturing in how he manages his body. A couple of years ago, he might’ve kept swinging until he collapsed.
The rest of the day saw England pile on the runs with commanding confidence. Liam Dawson and Jamie Smith played watchfully, while Root and Stokes had already done most of the damage. England’s lead steadily climbed past 140, and the Indian bowlers—clearly feeling the pressure—began to tire, especially with Bumrah carrying what looked like an ankle niggle. Still, India kept scrapping. Jadeja in particular bowled with renewed fire, trying to exploit any crack in England’s lineup.
But make no mistake: this was England’s day. Root’s brilliance lit up Old Trafford, and Stokes’ determination—even if cut short—added to the grit. With England looking to stretch their lead to somewhere around 250, the pressure’s all on India now. Unless the weather intervenes, the hosts are in pole position heading into day four.
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