England’s fourth Test against India at Old Trafford has turned into much more than just a cricket match.
It’s been a mix of record-breaking performances, offbeat crowd moments, and a few behind-the-scenes controversies — a perfect brew of sport and spectacle.
Let’s dive into the biggest moments that had fans buzzing over the weekend.
Ben Stokes Hits New Heights with Historic Saturday Performance
Ben Stokes gave fans a Saturday to remember, not just with fireworks, but with a bit of history too.
When the England captain launched a towering six off Washington Sundar, he joined one of Test cricket’s most elite clubs — players with over 7,000 runs and 200 wickets.
Only two others have done it: Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis. Not bad company to keep.
That wasn’t all. His century, the first in two years, also put him alongside England greats like Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and Gus Atkinson as players who’ve scored a hundred and taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test. A day to remember indeed.
Joe Root Stays Grounded Despite Chasing History
While fans and pundits are busy calculating whether Joe Root can break Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time Test run record, the man himself is keeping things simple.
After his stunning 150 on Friday pushed him past Rahul Dravid and to second place on the all-time run-scorer list, Root brushed off talk of chasing records. “It’s not something I focus on,” he said.
“It’s about winning games, setting them up or chasing them down. The rest will take care of itself.”
That steady, team-first mindset is exactly why he’s so respected — and why Tendulkar’s 15,921 might just be in reach sooner than we think.
England Batting Blitz Leaves Bumrah With Unwanted Milestone
England didn’t just dominate — they rewrote the record books.
Their first-innings total of 669 is now the highest ever Test score at Old Trafford.
It’s also their fifth-best of all time and the second-highest they’ve posted against India, behind only the 710 they racked up at Edgbaston in 2011.
But while England were celebrating, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah had a day to forget.
For the first time in his Test career, he conceded over 100 runs in a single innings — a rare blemish for one of the game’s top bowlers.
Two Sporting Worlds Collide for British Fans
Saturday delivered a rare treat for fans of both cricket and rugby.
Just before 1pm, while England were running riot at Old Trafford, Hugo Keenan scored a dramatic try to help the British and Irish Lions seal a series win over Australia in Melbourne.
At almost the same moment, Chris Woakes struck twice in two balls, reducing India to 0-2.
Two teams, two matches, two electric moments — all within minutes. It doesn’t get much better for sports fans.
Crowd Finds Joy in a Darts Doppelgänger
When wickets were hard to come by, Old Trafford’s Party Stand crowd found another source of entertainment — a man dressed as darts legend Michael van Gerwen.
Wearing the Dutchman’s signature lime green shirt and flanked by mates dressed as dartboards, the lookalike became a crowd favourite. Chants of “Oh, Michael van Gerwen” echoed around the ground as the party vibe kicked in, especially when the fake MVG was encouraged to down his drink.
Lancashire Legend Left Off the Guest List
While many of Lancashire’s cricket greats were spotted enjoying the Test — including Sir Clive Lloyd and Wasim Akram — one notable name was missing: Graeme ‘Foxy’ Fowler.
The former left-handed opener, who represented the county for over a decade, didn’t hide his disappointment. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “A lot of former Lancashire players at the Test match today. I guess my invitation got lost in the post.”
Ouch.
New Identity Incoming for Manchester’s Hundred Team
Big changes are coming to the Hundred.
Starting in 2026, the Manchester Originals will rebrand as the Manchester Super Giants. This follows a majority stake takeover by the RSPG Group — the same group that owns IPL’s Lucknow Super Giants and South Africa’s Durban Super Giants.
That means the high-stakes Hundred clash between Lancashire-linked Manchester and Yorkshire’s Northern Superchargers will now become a Super Giants vs Superchargers derby. Expect fireworks and rebranded merchandise.