After accruing just three runs from his first 72 deliveries and then seeing five wickets fall around him for just 41 runs, Stokes breathed new life into this Ashes series almost on his own
A shell-shocked Stuart Broad described Ben Stokes as having “the heart of a lion” after the allrounder dragged England to a scarcely believeable victory at Headingley.
After accruing just three runs from his first 72 deliveries and then seeing five wickets fall around him for just 41 runs, the Durham star breathed new life into this Ashes series with a display of extraordinary stroke-play and courage.
“He had great determination last night to get through that tricky period when Australia bowled beautifully,” Broad reflected to Sky Sports. “He stayed in first gear until nine down. He just kept going.
"To be able to put that Jos Buttler out of his mind is an incredible skill as well, to just focus on his job. To be able to flip from first gear to fifth gear in the way that he did and clear the ropes shows what a freakish cricketer he is.
“The bloke has got the heart of a lion. Everything he does is for the best of the team. He’s the perfect teammate.
“He didn’t celebrate his fifty, he didn’t celebrate his hundred. It was just all about winning this Test match. He deserves everything that will come his way because he’s an incredible cricketer and even better bloke.”
Stuart Broad congratulated Ben Stokes on the field
Broad, who still sounded genuinely taken aback by what he had witnessed – his own game ended with a second-ball dismissal to James Pattinson, added: “The emotions of that last hour were just outrageous.
“Cricketers don’t go through that in careers. And for some of these World Cup players, to go through that twice in six weeks is just outrageous really. It was one of those days that becomes one of those ‘I was there’ sort of moments. It was very special to watch Ben Stokes do what he did.”
In response to being asked whether there were times when he believed England’s Ashes hopes had gone – Jack Leach joined Stokes with England still 73 runs shy of their target, Broad admitted: “Absolutely.
“One ball needing 70 or 80 with one wicket left, of course. At times, when Stokesy hit the ball you don’t have a great view from the changing room and you can’t see where the fielders are.
"You just think: ‘That’s gone straight to the fielder.’ But it just kept going for six. It was absolutely spectacular. I don’t think anyone in this ground will ever forget [it].”
With the series now level and England looking ahead to the fourth Test at Old Trafford – an occasion that is likely to be equally raucous after the events of Sunday afternoon, Broad confessed that his team must improve after a poor display that, in truth, was saved by one man.
“67 all out in inexcusable,” he said. “We didn’t show any adjustability. We didn’t try and put any momentum back in our favour. We didn’t communicate very well. It was just a really poor 27 overs.
“We could have bowled Australia out for 150 again. We created chances. It has been a sloppy game for us but one bloke’s heroics have kept us in the Ashes series. Now, every single other player has to step up 10 percent and I fully believe we will do that.
“For us to be in this Ashes series at 1-1 with two to play didn’t look possible two hours ago. Now I’m fully backing us to go and win it.”
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Posted by Graham Hepburn on 26/08/2019 at 09:06
Fantastic performance yesterday, but we still need to make the same changes as if we had lost. Jason Roy is not a test match opener, I would either open with Joe Denly and Rory Burns or bring in another opener. I felt Dawad Malan had a better record than some others who have been tried and was unlucky to be dropped, I would bring him back in and Joe Root MUST bat number four. Jos Buttler looks way out of form, albeit unlucky with yesterday's dismissal, I would bring in Chris Foakes as wicket keeper and just play Jonny Bairstow as a batter. And of course, if fit, Jimmy Anderson must play. This is difficult, as either Stuart Broad or Chris Woakes must be dropped for him. The decision has to be drop Woakes, as this is a bowling decision and Broad is a better bowler, fourteen wickets at 25, against eight wickets at 32. Don't make the mistake of including the batting strength in a bowling decision, which England often do. Do this and, weather permitting, a 3-1 victory in the Ashes is doable. The alternative, of letting the euphoria of yesterday dictate the head and making no changes, will make it very difficult to win back the urn against an Australian team including Steven Smith.
Posted by Graham Hepburn on 26/08/2019 at 09:05
Fantastic performance yesterday, but we still need to make the same changes as if we had lost. Jason Roy is not a test match opener, I would either open with Joe Denly and Rory Burns or bring in another opener. I felt Dawad Malan had a better record than some others who have been tried and was unlucky to be dropped, I would bring him back in and Joe Root MUST bat number four. Jos Buttler looks way out of form, albeit unlucky with yesterday's dismissal, I would bring in Chris Foakes as wicket keeper and just play Jonny Bairstow as a batter. And of course, if fit, Jimmy Anderson must play. This is difficult, as either Stuart Broad or Chris Woakes must be dropped for him. The decision has to be drop Woakes, as this is a bowling decision and Broad is a better bowler, fourteen wickets at 25, against eight wickets at 32. Don't make the mistake of including the batting strength in a bowling decision, which England often do. Do this and, weather permitting, a 3-1 victory in the Ashes is doable. The alternative, of letting the euphoria of yesterday dictate the head and making no changes, will make it very difficult to win back the urn against an Australian team including Steven Smith.
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