New Delhi: Ben Stokes has lived through a long list of Ashes moments but few clips have stuck around like the one doing the rounds again. It’s the footage of his maiden Test century in Perth back in 2013, a gritty 120 on a final-day WACA surface torn open by huge cracks. England were chasing 369 in the third Test of that tour and while the task always looked too steep, Stokes refused to go quietly. He batted at No. 7, dug in for 195 balls and kept Australia honest for as long as he could before the hosts wrapped up a 150-run win on their way to a 5-0 whitewash.

The innings came at a time when England were being outplayed across formats but Stokes’ effort stood out because of the conditions. Balls were spitting off the deck, changing direction sharply once they hit those gaping fissures.

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