On a blistering Sunday in Perth, Ben Stokes didn’t just take wickets—he rewrote history. The England captain, 34, delivered a bowling spell for the ages: 5 wickets for 23 runs in just six overs, obliterating a record that had stood since 1936. It happened at Optus Stadium during the opening Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series on November 22, 2025. Australia, reeling at 31/4 after England’s own collapse, looked set to rebuild. Then Stokes arrived—and the floor fell out from under them.
Record Broken, Momentum Shifted
The previous benchmark for best bowling figures by an England captain in Ashes history belonged to Gubby Allen, who took 5/36 at The Gabba in December 1936. Allen’s feat came on a rain-softened pitch against a weakened Australian side. Stokes’ numbers? Better. Cleaner. More brutal. His 5/23 came in 36 deliveries—the third-fastest five-wicket haul by an Englishman in Test history, behind only Stuart Broad’s 19- and 34-ball efforts. And he did it on a flat Perth track, under clear skies, with the ball doing nothing extraordinary. He picked apart Australia’s middle order like a surgeon. Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), Alex Carey (26), Mitchell Starc (12), and Scott Boland (0) all fell to a mix of late swing, sharp seam movement, and unplayable bounce. The 45-run partnership between Head and Green—the only real resistance—vanished in 12 balls. Australia collapsed to 132 all out. England, who’d been bowled out for 172 in 32.5 overs, suddenly held a 40-run lead. The momentum had flipped. The crowd, once roaring for Australia, fell silent.A Captain’s Comeback
This wasn’t just about stats. It was about redemption. Stokes hadn’t played a competitive match since July 2025, recovering from a shoulder injury that had threatened his career. His batting, once his calling card, had been inconsistent this year. But his bowling? It had become something else entirely. In six Tests in 2025 alone, he’d taken 25 wickets at an average of 20.16. Two five-wicket hauls. A transformation from batter-with-a-ball to full-blown match-winner. He’s now the first England captain since Bob Willis in 1982 to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test. Willis’ 5/66 in Brisbane was heroic, but it came in a losing cause. Stokes’ was the difference between victory and defeat. And it wasn’t a fluke. His yorkers on the fifth stump, his change of pace into the rough, his ability to bowl long spells with precision—this was mastery.
England’s Bowling Machine
Stokes didn’t do it alone. Jofra Archer (2/11) was lethal with the new ball. Brydon Carse (2/45) removed Steve Smith for 17, a crucial scalp. Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson provided pace and aggression. It was England’s first all-pace attack in an Ashes Test in Australia since 2002—and it worked. Australia’s Mitchell Starc had been devastating in England’s first innings, taking 7/58—his best ever in Tests. But once the ball lost its shine, England’s bowlers turned the tables. No spinner. No mystery. Just raw, relentless pace and skill.Why This Matters
England hasn’t won a Test series in Australia since 2010-11. This match, the first of five, is their best chance in over a decade. With a 40-run lead and four wickets in hand, they’re in the driver’s seat. Stokes, who famously won the 2019 World Cup with a last-ball six and rescued England at Headingley in 2019 with a 135 not out, now has another legend-tier performance to his name. This time, it came with the ball. The record-breaking spell wasn’t just personal. It was psychological. Australia’s batting lineup, which had looked so solid in the first innings, now looked rattled. The pressure shifted. The tourists, once written off, suddenly smelled blood.
What’s Next?
England’s second innings begins on Day Three. Stokes will bat at No. 6, likely needing a big score to extend their lead. But the real story isn’t his batting—it’s his bowling. He’s now averaged under 21 with the ball in 2025. He’s the first England captain since 1982 to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test. And he’s done it in his first match back from injury. The Ashes is about legacy. And on November 22, 2025, Ben Stokes didn’t just play cricket—he carved his name into its history.Frequently Asked Questions
How does Stokes’ 5/23 compare to other great Ashes bowling performances?
Stokes’ 5/23 is the best by an England captain in Ashes history, surpassing Gubby Allen’s 5/36 from 1936. Only three English bowlers have taken faster five-wicket hauls in Tests: Stuart Broad (19 balls in 2015) and Jim Laker (19/90 in 1956, though not in the Ashes). Among pace bowlers, it’s the most devastating in Perth since 1981. The economy rate of 3.83 in six overs under pressure is unmatched for a captain in modern Ashes cricket.
What made this performance so surprising?
Stokes had been recovering from a shoulder injury and hadn’t bowled more than 10 overs in a match since July. He’d taken only one five-wicket haul in his previous 18 Tests since 2022. His bowling average in 2024 was over 35. To suddenly produce a 5/23 on a flat pitch, against Australia’s strongest batting lineup in years, was completely unexpected—even by his teammates. The precision, not just the pace, was the shock.
Who held the previous record, and why was it so hard to break?
Gubby Allen’s 5/36 in Brisbane in 1936 stood for 89 years because it came on a rain-affected pitch where Australia were bowled out for 58—their lowest home Test total in the 20th century. Since then, pitches have become harder, batsmen more skilled, and captains rarely bowl more than 10 overs. No England captain had even taken a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test in 43 years. Stokes did it on a flat track, in front of 60,000 fans, against a side that had just won the World Test Championship.
How does this affect England’s chances in the series?
Winning the first Test in Australia is the biggest hurdle in any Ashes series. England now leads 1-0 with momentum, confidence, and a captain who can win games with bat or ball. Their last series win Down Under was in 2010-11. This performance signals a revival. If they win this Test, they’ll be in prime position to clinch the series—something no England side has done in Australia since Andrew Strauss in 2011.
Is this the start of a new era for England’s Test cricket?
Possibly. England’s attack—Archer, Wood, Carse, Atkinson, and now Stokes as a genuine all-rounder—is the most fearsome since 2005. Stokes’ bowling resurgence, combined with emerging talent like Ollie Pope and Sam Curran, suggests a shift from a batting-heavy side to a balanced unit. If he maintains this form, England could be serious contenders for the next World Test Championship cycle.
What’s next for Ben Stokes personally?
Stokes is now the only England player with over 235 Test wickets and 7,000 Test runs. He’s the only captain in history to take a 100+ score and a five-wicket haul in the same Ashes Test (Headingley 2019, Perth 2025). With the series still to play, he could become the first man to score a century and take a 5-wicket haul in the same Ashes series since Ian Botham in 1981. His legacy is no longer just about one iconic innings—it’s about becoming the complete modern Test cricketer.