Ben Stokes has hit back at suggestions England should have declared earlier at Old Trafford, claiming anyone who thinks that was an option doesn’t understand cricket like he does.
England were denied the chance to pursue a win that would have kept their Ashes hopes alive in Manchester, with no play available on the final day of the fourth Test due to rain.
Stokes is adamant his side played a near-perfect game in the fourth Test, after bowling Australia out for 317 in the first innings and hitting 592 in reply.
England also had Australia 4-113 after day three and 5-214 following a rain-interrupted day four, before Sunday’s frustration.
But questions have been asked about whether Stokes should have declared earlier in England’s first innings, knowing rain was coming for the final two days.
At one stage before lunch on day three, England led by 170 in the first innings but they went on to bat for an extra hour as Jonny Bairstow plundered his way to 99no.
It was conceivable to think England could have given themselves two sessions to try to bowl Australia out for less than 170 on Friday, wrapping the game up before the rain-sodden weekend.
A point Stokes does not agree with.
“Regardless of what we did, we would have ended up in the same situation,” Stokes told BBC.
“Anyone who is going to question the declaration in this game probably doesn’t understand the game as well as we do.
“It’s rained, we have got three hours of cricket in two days. I don’t think, whatever we did, we would have been able to force a result in this game.
“And that’s just unfortunately due to the weather.”
England captain Ben Stokes. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
While Stokes did not regret the call, history showed England were always likely to rue going 2-0 down early in the series.
Only once has a side come from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series – Sir Donald Bradman’s Australians in 1936-37.
Manchester’s weather was partly proof of why it is so difficult to do.
England also had their chances to win the first two Tests, most notably when the hosts began day one at Edgbaston with 8-393 before declaring and losing the match.
They lost control of the Lord’s Test through their aggressive batting in the first innings, after being 1-188 in reply to Australia’s 416 with Nathan Lyon off the field for the tourists.
But Stokes said the only regret from the opening two losses was his drop of Lyon late on the final day at Edgbaston, before the spinner and Pat Cummins hit Australia to a two-wicket victory.
“The catch that I dropped off Nathan Lyon, honestly. That’s probably the biggest (regret),” Stokes told reporters.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
A vital component of the moral assessment. It's all about the process, not the result. I stupidly got the scores the wrong way around of course - it's 4(3/1) - 2(0/2) to England. As Napoleon said, the moral is to the physical as 3 is to 1 - so the "moral" score naturally should be given before the actual. The moral victory concept is one that has always caused a bit of a chuckle to me. The school I went to plays in the Brisbane GPS competition, and until recent times was not what you would call a rugby powerhouse. When I was in about grade 10 the first team had one of those seasons where against the good teams they'd play their best and work their hardest but be outclassed and lose; then they'd play a team nearer their standard, not play so well and lose again. The headmaster in the wrap-up at Monday assembly started referring to "moral victories". That was fine the first or second week he said it - the third brought a lot of murmuring and the fourth mocking laughter. I think he figured out at that point that he needed a new line.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
Without the Net Vibes Ratio this would make no sense to the layman
JohnB
Roar Rookie
England are decisively 4 (1/3) - 2 (2/0) in front in the series with one to play (so a 2 and 1 victory in golf terms). To translate the series score for those stuck in an old-fashioned linear way of thinking about wins and losses - it's 4 wins (1 actual, 3 moral) to 2 wins (2 actual, 0 moral). Naturally the home side and media get to make the call on what counts as a moral win. The one thing they aren't is an over-simplistic 2-1 down.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Lord Stokes can’t be challenged in Blighty it seems. None of the UK media are calling him out on the non declaration. If that was Cummins in the same position. ( batting too long ) he would have been pillored by many here in Oz and rightly so. Stokes should have absolutely declared. He got swept up in his mates quest for a ton and cost his team precious playing time.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Pretty sure Australia would have declined the opportunity to “only bowl Head and Labuschagne” and kept the quicks on. Off the field we go!
Stuart B
Roar Rookie
Also the historic clean sweep in the "Moral Victory" Ashes and the "Spirit of Cricket Gold Ribbon" . They'll be nipping down to Ikea for a chipboard trophy cabinet to house all of these achievements.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
By my reckoning, if Stokes had declared at start of day 3 with the 67 run lead, there would have been around 110 overs left in the match, and Australia would have had to bat for at least 80-85 of those to avoid defeat - all else being equal, their real score up to 71 overs would have been 5 for +147. Still room for a lower order collapse.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
Congratulations to Ben Stokes and his side on taking a 4-0 lead in the "Felt Like We Won" Ashes
AndyS
Roar Rookie
He may well be right and it might not have mattered. Alternatively, it might have been England chasing 60 runs, or even 100, on day 4 and a completely non-threatening track with only Head and Labuschagne allowed to bowl...
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
This is the Bazball Cult way. Deny 'til you die!
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Ben didn’t understand the game very well in the first test when he needlessly declared. Being 1-2 down it would have been worth the gamble declaring in this test. He clearly doesn’t understand weather forecasts either. The rain fell on Day 4 and Day 5 causing a washout that had been predicted.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I know captains have to be diplomats, but to suggest that nearly impossible dropped catch of Lyon was his only regret, suggests Stokes clearly doesn't know the game as well as he thinks he does. I guess the 14 or 15 dropped catches by Bairstow don't count, nor do the 2 or more Aussie wickets taken off one of the numerous no-balls England bowled. Throw in other missed chances, some village cricket fielding at times ........ yep, it was clearly Stokes fault Australia has retained the Ashes.