Stokes hits England's fastest Test half-century

Ben Stokes set a record for the fastest Test half-century by an England batter as his side won the third match of their series against West Indies at Edgbaston by 10 wickets.

Captain Stokes reached the mark in 24 balls, beating Ian Botham's 28-ball fifty from 1981 against India in Delhi.

The 33-year-old Stokes deputised as an opener because Zak Crawley was having a scan on a broken index finger on his right hand.

Stokes immediately attacked as England needed just 82 to secure a 3-0 series clean sweep.

He finished on 57 not out, with nine fours and two sixes, as England raced to their target in 7.2 overs.

At one stage Stokes was on 41 from 18 balls and could have beaten the men's Test record of 21 balls for a half-century, set by Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq against Australia in 2014.

Typically, Stokes played down his innings, telling BBC Test Match Special: "A couple hit the middle of the bat, I was seeing it quite well."

Stokes also said he did not know he had definitely broken the record until he spoke to England assistant coach Paul Collingwood in the changing room.

"I didn’t but when I brought it up Ducky [opening batter Ben Duckett] said it could be the fastest but Colly is the man upstairs who likes keeping track of all the little records that players make as individuals so he told me upstairs. It’s pretty cool," Stokes said.

Head coach Brendon McCullum added: "When Zak had to go and get an X-ray, Stokesy said he would open and that is fantastic from your leader. The way he struck the ball was absolutely beautiful."

Stokes will now play four games for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, before leading England in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka from 21 August.