England’s exhilarating run chase to battle again into the Ashes sequence was even an excessive amount of for captain Ben Stokes, regardless of the captain being the supply of many a dramatic innings.
Supporters headed to Headingley on day 4 with England needing 224 runs within the must-win check to cease Australia retaining the Ashes with two matches to spare, with Stokes very a lot in thoughts as their go-to hero.
On the bottom the place Stokes’ unimaginable 135 not out steered England to victory over its outdated foes within the 2019 sequence, the skipper managed simply 13 and needed to watch on from the pavilion.
Not that he might carry himself to, as Chris Woakes hit the successful runs to seal a pulsating three-wicket win to depart the sequence finely-poised at 2-1 to Australia.
“I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous at the end,” Stokes mentioned. “We knew we needed to win this one to keep alive our hopes of winning the Ashes.
“I walked about two kilometres around the Headingley dressing room in the last half-hour, I didn’t actually watch the last 20 runs being scored. It’s a completely different place when you cant do anything, you can’t influence the game any more.
“You’re left watching and hoping things are going to go your way. Because of where the series was at before this game started the whole performance with bat, ball, field — it was just an unbelievable effort from everybody.”
The key innings got here from younger Harry Brook, whose 75 made all of the distinction on his dwelling floor. Brook carried the England resistance, reaching his half-century off 57 balls — his ninth rating of fifty or extra for England in simply 10 exams.
Scoring at a speedy price has been Brook’s calling card since he got here into the England facet. He handed 1,000 check runs in 1,058 balls throughout his innings — sooner than some other batter in check historical past.
“I think that knock was under the pressure and the circumstance of where we are in the series,” Stokes added. “To be there and have the contribution that got us over the line was crucial.
“Brooky has got a very good head on his shoulders, he’s a very talented boy and I think we’ve allowed him to really propel his talent with bat in hand.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins was not too downhearted, given simply how shut his facet obtained to ending the job in Leeds, however in contrast to Stokes, just isn’t keen to overlook a minute.
“We were in control when Moeen (Ali) got Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith and we just needed to keep going,” Cummins mentioned.
“Unfortunately it happens. I thought getting up to 250 gave us something pretty competitive to bowl at but it wasn’t quite enough.
“It is still 2-1. We take each test in its own right. They have been a great watch so far. It’s great cricket. I actually really enjoy being out there.”
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com