[Watch] Ben Stokes hammers fastest Test fifty by an England player on day 3 of ENG vs WI 3rd Test
England captain Ben Stokes launched a brutal onslaught against the West Indies on day three of the 3rd Test in the fourth innings at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The seam-bowling all-rounder brought up the fastest Test fifty for England, doing so in only 24 deliveries, with the hosts chasing 82 for a win.
With Zak Crawley suffering an injury, the all-rounder promoted himself to open the innings with Ben Duckett. The southpaw started the first over with two consecutive boundaries off Alzarri Joseph's bowling. The English skipper smacked another two boundaries off Jayden Seales in the second over and followed it up with three more in the next. The England captain had reached 41 off only 18 deliveries by the end of the fourth over with nine boundaries to his name.
The seventh over of the innings saw the Durham all-rounder reach his half-century with a lethal pull shot off Shamar Joseph. England needed just 7.2 overs to seal a ten-wicket victory as Stokes took them home with a maximum off Kraigg Brathwaite's bowling.
"Everyone knows what's expected of them" - Ben Stokes
With England sealing a 3-0 whitewash, the 33-year-old hailed his team for a calculated approach to put the pressure back on the opposition after losing early wickets in this Test. He said at the post-match presentation:
"We were 50 for 5, 18 months ago we might have responded in a one-dimensional way. Now everyone knows what's expected of them, play their way and make smart choices, put pressure back on. To come back from there and win in three days is exceptional. Very good to win, we walk out every time wanting to win. We focus on process and what will give us the best chance."
England's next Test series is against Sri Lanka, beginning on August 21 at Old Trafford in Manchester.