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England clearly have their sights on a series win and to be able to reach one step closer to that high aim of theirs, they have arrived at the next or immediate hunting ground. Since its opening in 1857, Old Trafford has, more often than not, fired up the hosts. And they do enjoy an enviable record at the venue. But the man in midst of all the action here is Ben Stokes, who given his team's most recent success at Lord's, will be gearing up to go and claim a likely Test win. Moreover, there's reason enough to believe that England can thrive. Why is that? Not only because the Indian team is currently dealing with a set of injuries that they'd like to get out of their way in order to field the near-perfect playing XI, but also that at Old Trafford, Ben Stokes channelises the inner fighter that is within. So just how is that and what adds to his team's overall performance at such a legendary venue?
Here's Ben Stokes's records, stats at Manchester's Old Trafford
Old Trafford to give new zeal to England
From the team's overall point of view, the Old Trafford in Manchester appears to be a good hunting ground for the English side. That is no random statement. The hosts have actually enjoyed sterling success at this particular venue in the last decade and a half. As a matter of fact, from the onset of 2000, England have played 20 Tests at their grand old venue, winning fourteen of them.
Moreover, what will likely spur Ben Stokes to greater heights is the fact that at this ground, the England team have only lost two games, whilst having fought on for four draws. Not once have India, Ben Stokes' current rivals, beaten his team at this ground.
What's interesting is to note that the only two teams that have beaten England in Manchester happens to be Pakistan and Australia.
The last time that England were beaten in a Test at the Old Trafford was in 2019, Ben Stokes, the captain would be mindful.
But over to individual performances from their captain's point of view, Ben Stokes, one would note, will be the main key player for the hosts. Why is that?
Ben Stokes's record at Old Trafford
Of his 6800 plus Test match runs, the celebrated all rounder, who is as good a fast bowler as he is a batter and as reliable a captain as he is an agile athlete on ground, several of them have come at this particular venue.
As a matter of fact, 579 runs from 8 Tests have been scored by the England leader at the Old Trafford. Though unbeaten in one of his 12 Test outings here, the left handed batter, who plays aggressively and leads by an example has made runs at a glowing average of 52.6. Therefore, not only is his batting average touching 53, which is more than a successful marker for a high-level Test performer, Ben Stokes is also on the verge of a personal milestone where his overall Test career as a batter stands.
A personal milestone beckons
He needs to score 109 runs more to hit the famous 7000-Test mark. Given the decent form he is in at the moment, even as the big lofty scores have thus far evaded him, the challenger that Ben Stokes is, he could well get a decent enough knock at the venue.
Should he desire touching the skies and raising the bat to speak to the heavens from the Old Trafford ground, he would do well to recollect his famous knock of 176 that happened half a decade back in the day.
In a 356-ball stay at the wicket, during which time he faced potent Test attack of the Windies including Jason Holder and Kemar Roach, Ben Stokes carved a mighty Test hundred here. Moreover, he's hit 2 tons at the Old Trafford ground, in addition to 3 fifties.
Old Trafford's significance to Stokes' Test career as batter
Of all the grounds that Ben Stokes has played at, and he's batted thus far at 48 different grounds around the world, whether one speaks of India, West India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and his England, Stokes has hit the 2 highest-tally of his Test runs at Old Trafford.
And while he has been economical at the venue, claiming 11 Test wickets, his best bowling figures here remain 2 for 11. Given the rich vein of bowling form that Stokes demonstrated at Lord's, wherein he claimed 5 wickets, including a decisive and game changing three-for, Stokes the bowler would want to polish his seam bowling performances here with another thrilling spell. And he's got 2 new innings to do that.
But given the rich and dominant streak of form his opponents have been in, given the likes of Pant, Jaiswal, Rahul, Gill and others have hit fluent hundreds, Ben Stokes' key deliveability may just be with that "GM" willow. He also fired a useful century in 2022 against the visiting Proteas at the Old Trafford, another gritty knock.
With the coming of the big occasion, the mighty fine talents rise to the occasion. It is likely that so too will Ben Stokes. Who knows? That missing electric fifty or that thunderous hundred that one craved could well happen here in Manchester.
FAQs
How many runs has Ben Stokes scored in Manchester?
Ben Stokes has hit 579 runs at Old Trafford in Manchester. Career-wise, he's nearing 7000 runs.
What is Ben Stokes highest score in Manchester?
He made a 176 against West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester.
