07 July 2023 , 18:14
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Captain fantastic Ben Stokes saved England’s blushes for the umpteenth time to keep them throwing punches and stay in the Ashes hunt.
On the hottest day of the series so far, Stokes turned up the thermostat to 80, with that many runs in his innings to put his side within touching distance of the Aussies, while becoming just the 16th Englishman to score 6,000 Test runs.
No England cricketer has scored that many and taken anywhere near his 197 wickets, which won’t be added to anytime soon as Stokes all but hobbles on and off the field. It was down to his belligerent knock that Australia’s lead was capped at just 26 before Moeen Ali snaffled the two huge wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in a second innings now standing at 116-4, a lead of 142.
He won’t reveal just how much his efforts are taking out of him physically, that is not his style, but boy is he putting his body on the line for the England cause. And there is a touch of the Popeyes about Stokes too.
Just as the cartoon sailor would find his can of spinach the moment the situation became so dire for Olive Oyl that only a miracle could save her, so too Stokes pops a couple of anti-inflammatories in and starts to wield the willow with his bulging biceps when all hope looks lost for England.
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He has done it so many times now that it is almost to be expected that England’s saviour will ride to their rescue as a matter of course.
And of course he loves it. Defying the desperate nature of any situation, and producing the goods when his team needs it most is what pushes his buttons.
Stokes is a warrior, that much is obvious, but he has incredible protective instincts and it is that need to look after his cricketing family that drives his performance to ever more astonishing highs even if it comes at a personal cost.
England captain Ben Stokes hits the ball in the air watched by Australia wicketkeeper Alex CareyClearly this is not the same Stokes that performed so brilliantly in 2019, this is Stokes raging against a creaking body that won’t let him do the things he used to.
Both at Lord’s and then here, his chronic left knee injury is hampering his every move, and the longer he stays in the middle the harder it gets to bat. He was also dealing with a sore glute on his right side which was causing him to seize up every time he played a shot in anger, and yet five times he sent the ball soaring over the ropes.
England were floundering at 68-4 when he walked out to bat with Joe Root dismissed by the brilliant Pat Cummins from just the second ball of the day, as part of his 6-91.
When Jonny Bairstow wafted at and edged a wide one, and Moeen Ali top-edged a reckless pull it was 131-6, still 132 behind.
Somehow that gap ended up being just 26 thanks to another thunderous and calculated innings from Stokes, not to mention a truly rapid 24 from Mark Wood.
In fact it was the fastest ever score of 24 in Test history, from just eight balls, pushing the great Adam Gilchrist into second spot with a turgid nine.
Moeen Ali of England with captain Ben Stokes celebrates dismissing Steve Smith of AustraliaJonny Bairstow couldn't resist a pop at Steve Smith after his cheap Ashes exit - Read all about it here
England star Moeen attempts remarkable one handed switch hit vs South Africa
The Durham duo got the Headingley faithful up and singing between lunch and tea with Wood’s swishing and Stokes’ clean striking, although he enjoyed two slices of luck when he had made 45 with Mitchell Starc and Todd Murphy both grassing catches.
Steve Smith showed the way though with five catches in the innings including the one at long on that eventually accounted for Stokes, and the sense of relief from the Aussies was clear.
Stuart Broad removed David Warner without fuss, but it was wickets for Chris Woakes and Moeen that put England right in the game with everything to play for on day three.