mirror.co.uk MONDAY 26.08.2019 DAILY MIRROR^3
DM1STThat’s Bentertainment
How a hero fulfilled
court-steps pledge
BY ANDY LINES Chief Reporter
I SAT on the press benches of Court No 1 at
Bristol crown court on August 14 last year
and watched Ben Stokes close his eyes in
relief after a jury acquitted him of affray.
Minutes later, a steely Stokes walked out
to face the press. You could sense
something had changed.
He vowed never to get into trouble
again. He vowed to dedicate his life to
cricket and to his beloved England team.
Just a year on, he has played possibly
the most sensational innings of all time.remarkable cricket moments
in my life but that is the best.”
The success also marked a
dramatic personal turnaround
for Stokes. Just a year ago, he
was acquitted of affray after
getting involved in a brawl,
which led to him losing the
vice-captaincy.
But this summer, he helped
England win the World Cup
before his Ashes heroics.
His amazing effort evoked
memories of Sir Ian Botham’s
famous escape act with
England at the same Head-
ingley ground in 1981.
The odds on Stokes winning
BBC Sports Personality of the
Year were slashed to 4-1 on.
And bookies are even taking
bets on him being knighted.
At the G7 summit in Biarritz,
English reporters were scolded
by officials for cheering as they
followed the run chase.
Even PM Boris Johnson
tweeted: “What a performance,
incredible batting from Stokes.”
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@andylinesBY ANDY LINES Chief ReporterVOICE OF THE MIRROR: PAGE 8 & SEE SPORTSport’s greatest
ever comebacks
Muhammad Ali
He was denied a boxing licence after
refusing the draft into the US Army
and stripped of his world
heavyweight title in 1967. Ali
regained the crown with the
“Rumble in the Jungle” win over
George Foreman in 1974.
Bob Champion and Aldaniti
Both jockey and horse battled back
from adversity to win the 1981 Grand
National at Aintree. Champion had
been diagnosed with cancer in 1979
while his mount had suffered three
serious leg injuries.
Liverpool FC
They trailed 3-0 to AC Milan at half-
time in the Champions League final
in 2005, but Steven Gerrard inspired
three goals in six minutes to force
extra-time – they won on penalties.
Nikki Lauda
The Austrian won his first world
crown in 1975 but suffered horrific
burns when his Ferrari burst into
flames in the 1976 German Grand
Prix. He returned to the grid just
weeks later and won the world title
for a second time the following year.
Tiger Woods
The US golfer, 43, won his fifth
Masters at Augusta this
year – his first success in
a Major in 11 years.Stokes’ Ashes sensation sealed with a kiss
REFLECTING Ben chills after his heroicsBEN Stokes led England to
a historic Ashes victory
over Australia in what has
been dubbed “the greatest
cricket match of all time”.
The all-rounder hit a
superb unbeaten 135 runs,
including eight sixes.
After Stokes smashed the
winning runs, batting part-
ner Jack Leach ran up and
kissed him. Stokes joked: “It
was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”
The emotional 28-year-old
added: “It is never over until it’s
over. I never really give up.”
There was an extraordinary
atmosphere at Headingley in
Leeds – with a capacity crowd
chanting football-style as
England edged closer and closer
to an epic one-wicket win.
Former captain Sir
Alastair Cook, 34, said:
“It’s the most extraor-
dinary Test innings
ever played by an
England batsman.”
And legend Geoff
Boycott, 78, added:
“I’ve seen some
ANXIOUS TV spectators are gripped by action as they watch at
Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl ground, Southampton. Right, glum AussieELATION Fans at Headingley
celebrate a sensational winIt is never
over until
it’s over. I
never really
give up...
BEN STOKES
ENGLAND ASHES HERO