could help safeguard Test cricket
for years to come. “Games like that
will change people’s perceptions of
cricket,” Root said. “The World Cup
certainly did that in many ways and
I think this will for Test cricket.”
Stokes eclipsed even his match-
winning turn in the World Cup final
to lead England to their record
chase of 359. However, England’s
star man joked last night that there
were no great secrets to his success.
“Last night I think had a knock-
off Nando’s and two bars of Yorkie
biscuit and raisin,” he said.
In the greatest day for England at
Headingley since 1981, Stokes led
last man Jack Leach in an unbroken
stand of 76 for the final wicket.
Stokes hit eight sixes and 11 fours
as he instantly laid claim to one ofthe greatest innings of all time.
Redemption after that bar fight in
Bristol two years ago is complete
for the 28-year-old.
Root said Stokes’s performance
had been “ridiculous”. “To have the
calmness and skill, the reliance to
get through that ... is just phenom-
enal. It was just incredible to
watch.”
The captain says England now
have the momentum to win the
series, and said one-day captain
Eoin Morgan had “summed it up
perfectly” by describing Stokes as
“superhuman”.
“He is a bit of a freak to time and
time again produce match-winning
performances like that,” Root said.
“Everyone will look at this in-
nings and, rightly so, say that wasA hero’s tale:
England
all-rounder Ben
Stokes takes a
moment in the
dressing room
(left) to take in
the enormity of
his series-saving
innings at
Headingley in the
third Test against
Australia, after
being mobbed by
his delighted
team-mates
(above) moments
after hitting the
winning runs
(right) after a
last-wicket stand
of 76 with Jack
Leach levelled
the seriesespecially in that situation, mean
absolutely nothing.”
He said yesterday was “certainly
close” to matching his World Cup
winning feat against New Zealand.
“It was just an amazing game to be a
part of, to be there at the end and
still keep our Ashes hopes was a
pretty special feeling coming off at
the end,” he said.
Stokes added: “To be sat here,
especially after getting bowled out
for 67, to still be in with a chance of
getting the urn back is an amazing
feeling. Walking off there at the end
was a time to take everything in and
realise what we’ve just done as a
team, not as an individual.”
The likes of Jos Buttler had been
unable to watch in the dramatic
closing overs. “He didn’t reallywant to watch,” Root added. “We
were trying to work out how Ben
was going to play it and we got to
the point where ‘it doesn’t matter –
if he trusts his instincts, we’ve got a
chance’. Games like that just make
Test cricket the best. You look at
the atmosphere in the ground.
I can’t put it into words.”
Of Stokes, Root added: “He’s the
ultimate team man. He will do
anything for every single one of
your players.”
Root recognised “we were poor,
very poor” in summoning a first in-
nings of 67, but added: “In a strange
way it’s a slight positive that we can
still find ways of winning.”
Root joked that Stokes’s only
weakness was his “terrible”
handwriting.A Test like no other
Record highs and lows
362
England’s
highest
fourth
innings score
to win and
the 10th
highest of
all timethe reason we won that Test match.”
Stokes explained that he had barely
noticed when he reached his cen-
tury yesterday.
“There was still a lot of runs to
get,” he said. “Personal milestones,67
England’s
lowest first
innings score
to win a Test
for 131 years
and the fourth
lowest of
all timeperformance fuelled by ‘knock-off Nando’s and two Yorkie bars’
The Daily Telegraph Monday 26 August 2019 *** 3
RELEASED BY "What's News" vk.com/wsnws TELEGRAM: t.me/whatsnws