TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Stokes plays superbly while Bairstow is controversially ‘stumped out’

Ben Stokes played one of the great Ashes innings to date, but England fell agonisingly short of winning the second Test on what can only be described as a controversial day at Lord’s. 

Stokes made 155, including nine sixes, to break the Ashes record and come unbelievably close to winning the second Test for England. However, his side fell 44 short of their victory target of 371. 

The final day was also subject to some controversy when Jonny Bairstow was ‘stumped’ by wicketkeeper Alex Carey after leaving his crease thinking the ball was dead.

As a result, Australia have come out on top by 43 runs to go 2-0 in the series against England. 

Here, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH shares the key statistics from the fifth day of the Ashes second Test at Lord’s.

The nine sixes hit by Ben Stokes broke his own Ashes record for an innings – eight at Headingley in 2019.

Only Stokes himself, with 11 against South Africa at Cape Town in 2015-16, and Wally Hammond, with 10 against New Zealand at Auckland in 1932-33, have hit more in a Test innings for England.

Stokes’s 155 was the fifth-highest score for England in the fourth innings of a Test, and the highest since Mark Butcher’s unbeaten 173 to beat Australia at Headingley in 2001.

Ben Stokes’s 155 was the fifth-highest score for England in the fourth innings of a Test

Ben Duckett’s scores of 98 and 83 means he now averages 55 as an opener – the seventh-highest figure in Test history for anyone who has opened in at least 20 innings. Top of the list is Usman Khawaja, who averages 65.

Only once have a Test team come from 2-0 down to win a series: Australia against England in 1936-37, helped by scores of 270, 212 and 169 by Don Bradman.

Stuart Broad has now been involved in nine century stands in Test matches – and five have come at Lord’s, including his 332 with Jonathan Trott against Pakistan in 2010, still a Test record partnership for the eighth wicket.

Stuart Broad (pictured above) has now been involved in nine century stands in Test matches