Stokes throws support behind Anderson as England bid to end Ashes on a high

26 July 2023 , 17:00

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Ben Stokes has given Jimmy Anderson his total backing as he sends the same eleven Bazballers out at the Oval to finish the job from Manchester.

Stokes’ side can only draw the Ashes with a win in the fifth and final Test, but it would be vindication for his team and their methods to push the World Champion Aussies so close, and even take the moral victory from a series they have dominated more often.

A win at the Oval would also put some much needed points into the basket for the current World Test Championship where a rematch with Australia in the final would be a delicious precursor to the next Ashes Down Under.

And while Stokes is not obsessed with results, he would love nothing more than a win to deny the Aussies here before becoming an Ashes-winning captain next time round.

“They want to win this game as much as we do,” said Stokes. “I know that they want to leave England saying that they’ve won the Ashes, and not just retained it.

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“But we want to win this game because we want to say that Australia only retained it. So I think there's enough motivation there from both sides to get a result.

“Obviously now this series has gone and how close we were, it does make you think when we go to Australia do we have a better chance than the last few times we’ve been there.

“It’d be nice to go out to Australia in 2025 and have a good chance of winning. The Ashes is such an important series for English and Australian cricket, it is the big one, It would be nice to say I’ve won it twice, but we’ll just see when 2025 comes around.”

England's James Anderson speaks to team-mate Ben Stokes (PA)

There can be no guarantee that the soon to be 41-year-old Anderson will make it that far, but right now he is still being asked to lead the attack as the man Stokes considers to be the greatest fast bowler the game has ever seen.

The 37-year-old Stuart Broad will be alongside him as the only fast bowler to have played all five Tests for England, and is the top wicket-taker on either side.

And yet former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has called on them both to walk away after this week’s game in order to go out on the grandest stage.

It is not a view shared by Stokes or the bowlers themselves who are desperate to sign off for the summer with a win and another moment of glory in their storied careers.

The pair will then head temporarily into the commentary box for the Hundred with their on field work done and dusted by the end of July.

“James Anderson is the greatest fast-bowler to play the game and he’s still looking as good as he was two years ago,” said Stokes. “Although he hasn’t had the impact that he would have liked in this series.

“I feel frustrated for him and feel he’s been a bit unlucky. He’s a quality bowler and quality performer. Nearly 700 Test wickets is phenomenal, and to be able to do it all around the world as well.