Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds [August 2019].
On August 25, 2019, Ben Stokes transformed into an English knight in shining armor. In the third Ashes Test at Headingley, he surprised the cricketing world by playing one of the greatest Test innings ever witnessed, helping England to an incredible triumph against Australia. In a thrilling one-wicket triumph over Australia on the fourth day of play, Stokes scored an unbeaten 135 runs with England chasing an enormous target of 359. It is pertinent to note that this is the second highest successful run-chase of the English Cricket Team (At the time it was played it was the highest)* However English managed to chase down this massive target, thanks to the Ben Stokes' amazing innings of 135 not off 219 deliveries. It is noteworthy that with one wicket remaining, England were 286-9 at one point, 73 runs short of their target. The Aussies needed just one more wicket to win the win the match and retain the Ashes.
As a result, Stokes changed gears at this point and, with Jack Leach, the last man, chipped away at the rising target methodically. Stokes showed off his flexibility by combining strong defense with prolific hitting. In the final 42 balls he faced, he scored 75 runs, displaying remarkable mental clarity and a disconcerting sense of composure under extreme pressure. It is pertinent to note that Stokes's Headingley exploits goes beyond his on-field batting exploits. Earlier in the match, Stokes marked a constant presence on the field by his bowling and fielding; taking wickets at crucial juncture. Ben Stokes proved once and for all that he is one of the best all-rounders of the contemporary era with a Test match performance to remember.
This remarkable triumph revitalized the Ashes series and validated the excitement and attraction that cricket fans feel for this centuries-old rivalry. The unforgettable performance by Stokes at Headingley will live on forever in the annals of cricketing history. Such bravery and intelligence highlights the erratic beauty of Test Cricket. They also restate that heroes—like Ben Stokes—rise to the occasion and become legendary in their own right when faced with hardship.
To watch the Final Day Highlights of the Headingley Test, Click Here.
*(The record was ultimately broken in July 2022 when English chased down a massive 378 against India in Birmingham).
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