It is why his peers are men such as Andrew Flintoff, Trevor Bailey, Greig and Botham. Stokes’ 14th Test hundred put him level with Botham, who made the most of any England all-rounder. And, more than he has been for quite some time, Stokes is a genuine all-rounder again.

Ben Stokes answered his critics in emphatic style, bringing up a hard-fought century on Day 4 of the 4th Test against India — his first in Test cricket in over two years.

England captain Ben Stokes etched his name into cricket history at Old Trafford, becoming the first English skipper to achieve a century and five-wicket haul in the same Test match. The all-rounder reached this unprecedented milestone against India on Saturday,