It was only six weeks ago that we thought we had seen the greatest thing ever in a cricketing sphere.
A tied World Cup final at Lord’s, a tied super over in a World Cup final, and a day that will live long in the memory of cricket fans all over the world. Central to that day was one man.
Ben Stokes, who mixed masterful skill along with some brilliant divine intervention, propelled England to glory. Six short weeks later, he has done it again.
The pressure was equally as big but the stakes and the odds were even further stacked against him. He stood at the other end as the wickets tumbled around him. He had only managed two runs off his first 70 deliveries faced – how focused he was.
For all the sniffs that England had throughout the day that were snuffed out at the fall of every wicket – and for all the nerves and tremors that would’ve been felt by all 20,000 Yorkies in the stands, the media in the press box and the millions of nervous wrecks in their lounge rooms – Ben Stokes was the coolest man in Leeds.
This is well and truly the summer of Stokes.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
On the first day of the World Cup, he peeled off an unbeaten 80 before going on to take one of the best outfield catches you will ever see. He then contributed four more scores over 70 to help deliver the trophy in what was a Superman-like performance across the tournament, especially on that final day at Lord’s.
But you can look at the World Cup in isolation, as these performances over the past three Ashes Tests are a build-up of what is sure to be 18 months of regret, guilt and frustration.
Stokes was meant to be a part of the touring group down under in Australia two summers ago. He was meant to serve as deputy to Joe Root in a bid to retain the Ashes on Australian soil. A boozy night in Bristol, which led to police intervention, was the night that many ex-England greats believe that the Ashes were lost back then. He didn’t feature at all in that series and Australia went on to win 4-0 in a canter.
England had no right to chase down 359. not after getting bowled out for 67 in the first dig. Not after being 2-15. Not after being nine down still 79 runs away from the total with Stokes on 66.
He had seen his captain skip down the pitch and nick one, then a dashing Jonny Bairstow dab at a wide one and get caught. He ran out the most likely of his partners in Jos Buttler, and saw the tail go cheaply.
Yet somehow, Ben Stokes put on his Superman cape again and carried his country home. He is a man on a mission, who is making up for lost time and his sins.
This is the same guy who effectively bowled 24 overs straight – including 15 in a row from the tea break up until the close of play on Day 3 while Jofra Archer was off the field.
Pounding in and sending them down at close 90 miles per hour, bowling Travis Head with a beautiful in-swinger, bouncing out Matthew Wade and drawing nicks that were dropped off the seemingly unflappable Marnus Labuschagne. He was building pressure and creating a presence to try and swing the game back in his country’s favour any which way he could.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
His impact on this series and English cricket this summer has already been profound. The World Cup, a hundred last week at Lord’s to take them from a certain draw to the thoughts of a possible win, and a performance at Headingley that equalled and or bettered the likes of both Ian Botham in 1981 and Andrew Flintoff in 2005.
When Ricky Ponting and Geoffrey Boycott are hailing it as one of the best innings they’ve ever seen, you know that something special has been achieved.
For all the chances that Australia had to win the game and tuck the urn away with two to play – the mismanaged reviews, the missed run out with only two runs to win, the dropped catch, the sloppiness with the second new ball – Ben Stokes just wouldn’t be denied.
Yet again, he was the man to save the day for England. We move on to Manchester with the Ashes well and truly alive.
Cricket has seen some truly ridiculous days in the last 12 months. Usman Khawaja’s 141 in the UAE, batting for over 125 overs to help Australia save the Test they were destined to lose. Kusal Perera’s 153 not out to sink South Africa in Durban with only number 11 for company. A two-day one-day semi-final in the World Cup, which delivered an ultimate upset and a World Cup final that deserves a documentary on its own.
Then there’s this day with Ben Stokes writing another chapter in his summer for the ages, ensuring that the battle for the little urn lives on, leaving all of us wanting more.
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