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Ben Stokes goes BIG in his first innings as England Test captain

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Most normal people would have a few nerves as they strode out to the middle for their first innings since being named England’s new Test captain but then as we know by now Benjamin Stokes is not normal.

He’s made a career out of making the impossible, possible – achieving remarkable feats, producing breathtaking moments, and delivering eye-catching performances.

And he delivered another such performance at New Road against Worcestershire today.

Records tumbled as Stokesy hit 161 from 126 balls to help Durham declare on 580 for 6 in their first innings.

By reaching his 100 in just 66 balls, the new Test skipper hit the fastest First Class century in the county’s history – knocking Paul Collingwood off top spot – but he certainly wasn’t done there.

Stokes would go on to break the record for the most sixes in a First Class innings in England by smashing 17 in his 161.

Five of those came in a row as he hit 34 from a single over to bring up his century and it speaks volumes of the man that he was furious at himself that the final boundary bounced short of the rope.

He smashed the first ball after lunch for six to bring up his 150 and not long after was eventually caught on 161.

It was a brutal showcase of timing and explosive hitting that under any circumstances would be impressive but to do it a little more than a week on from and in his first innings after becoming England’s 81 Test captain is…well there aren’t really any words for it.

It’s better that we show you, so courtesy of the County Championship here are all 25 of his boundaries…

If anyone was wondering how becoming England captain has impacted him, I think the remarkable events of today are the answer.

Given what he’s done for Durham after taking the role, we can only imagine what he’s going to produce when he pulls on the Three Lions at Lord’s at the start of June.

You’d imagine everyone in world cricket is looking forward to finding out, except perhaps New Zealand!