Leeds: Ben Stokes has said his remarkable century was ‘unbelievable’ as England secured an astounding one-wicket win over Australia in the third Test at Headingley to square the Ashes series at 1-1.
England, dismissed for just 67 in their first innings – their lowest Ashes total in 71 years – were seemingly dead and buried at 286-9, still 73 shy of a victory target of 359. But the 28-year-old left-handed batsman Ben Stokes, whose five-and-a-half hour innings was a brilliantly paced mix of defence and aggression, saw England home with a superb 135 not out.
“Unbelievable,” Ben Stokes told ‘Sky Sports’. “It’s one I’ll never forget. “I’ve got to try and take it all in,” added Stokes, whose batting heroics had also helped Englnd win the World Cup for the first time in July. “I’m not sure it’ll ever happen again. It’s one of the two best feelings I’ve ever felt on a cricket pitch,” the England all-rounder further added.
Stokes, involved in a run out of Jos Buttler which looked to have affected England’s chances said that he never wanted to give up. “Just never give up. It’s not over until it’s over. When (Jack Leach) Leachy came in, it was pretty clear what had to be done. It was five and one. I’ll take five (deliveries), you take one,” Stokes informed
Bespectacled Leach, who hit a career best 92 as nightwatchman in England’s recent Test win over Ireland, played his part as Stokes acknowledged.
“He’s (Leach) a super nightwatchman, knowing what he had to do. I couldn’t watch in the end. I was just waiting to see what happened,” Stokes, informed.
“I think when it got down to the 30s (victory target) I was thinking, ‘rein it in a little’, but when it was in the 60s, 70s, 50s I had to really try and I sort of got in the zone. We had to win this game to stay in the Ashes and we managed to do it,” added Stokes.
England captain Joe Root labelled his long-time friend’s display ‘outrageous’. “We said at the start of the day, ‘we just have to believe’ and while two people are alive and breathing, we have a chance’,” said Root, who added just two runs to his overnight score before falling for 77.
Asked about Stokes’s innings, Root said: “To try and sum that up in words is pretty much impossible. Outrageous batting. But it has helped keep the Ashes alive and kicking.”
Among those at the ground watching the match was David Gower, who played in the celebrated 1981 Ashes Test at Headingley when England beat Australia after following-on in a match where Ian Botham hit 149 not out and fast bowler Bob Willis took 8-43.
“That was the most extraordinary performance I have seen from anyone ever, both as a player and as a broadcaster over the last 40 years,” Sky Sports commentator Gower said.
“To dominate proceedings like that, to control proceedings, to take all the risks that could easily have failed, to come out on top, to be there at that moment, that takes unbelievable skill, unbelievable courage,” the former England captain added.
AFP