BIG BEN'S BACK

He joins legends Sobers and Kallis

-  Mike Walters

BEN STOKES has long been confined to exalted company but now he has joined an exclusive club of only three members.

When the England captain trapped Kirk McKenzie leg before at Lord's, he became only the third man after Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis - to achieve the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket.

Think of celebrated all-rounders who fell short of either milestone or both - Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, Freddie Flintoff and the penny will drop that big Ben has reached an orbit of greatness.

In a one-sided first Test, Stokes' feat may warrant only a footnote in what will be a resounding home win.

Like thousands of spectators observing the dress code in memory of former England skipper Sir Andrew Strauss' wife, Ruth, you can take it as red.

West Indies, on 79-6 and still needing 171 to make England bat again, have been outplayed.