England vs India: Forget the score… this incredible stat from the Third Test at Trent Bridge will absolutely blow your mind
In its 141-year history, no Test match had ever seen the top five from both teams reach double figures in both innings
ENGLAND and India were merely going through the motions of what should be a heavy win for the visitors at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
With Joe Root's men needing an unlikely 521 to win in Nottingham, India took four quick top order wickets to put them on the verge of victory.
However, amidst the drama, a new Test cricketing record was set... and it's an absolute jaffa.
Never in its 141-year history had a Test match ever seen the top five from both teams reach double figures in both innings.
But when Ben Stokes got himself past the ten-barrier, he helped set a remarkable, barely believable stat, never seen since the format's 1877 inception.
Despite England's paltry first innings total - and early second innings collapse - all of Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Root, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow and Stokes reached double figures.
It was the same story for Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Che Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane too.
On top separate occasions had 19 of the 20 innings spread between two nations' top five reached double figures.
But the full five from both teams in both innings had never managed it.
Elsewhere, England also became the first team in Test history to have eight top-six batsmen dismissed between ten and 19 in a single match.