Australia’s Steve Smith displayed sportsmanship and offered commiserations to England’s captain Ben Stokes after the latter’s dismissal at Lord’s, following a magnificent innings of 155. Smith was well aware of the crucial mistake he had made earlier, dropping Stokes at deep square leg when he was on 114.
Stokes was single-handedly steering the match away from the visitors, evoking memories of the unforgettable 2019 Headingley Test. In that remarkable game, England faced a daunting task of chasing down 359 runs for victory against the same opponent. Stokes had played a heroic innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 and leading his team to a sensational one-wicket triumph.
If his performance in 2019 was considered stupendous, then his innings on this Sunday at Lord’s seemed to be stupendous on steroids. Starting the day with the overnight score of 114-4 and requiring 257 more runs for victory, England needed nothing short of a miracle innings.
Stokes rose to the occasion, assuming a leadership role from the front. However, this remarkable innings required a catalyst to ignite the fire, and that catalyst came in the form of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal. Bairstow fell victim to a controversial run-out orchestrated by Alex Carey, as he carelessly wandered out of the crease while the ball was still in play.
A heated exchange of words ensued between the competing teams, and the crowd joined in, chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, cheat, cheat, cheat.” The tension escalated, and Stokes, visibly furious, took out his frustration on bowler Cameron Green, smashing 14 runs in a single over, including three boundaries. In the following over, he targeted Green once again, this time hitting three consecutive sixes, with the final one propelling him to his 13th Test hundred.
Stokes had already been given a second chance earlier when he struck a powerful shot back at Pat Cummins, who couldn’t hold on to the ball due to its sheer velocity. Now, with Stuart Broad by his side, Stokes appeared to be leading England towards a historic victory at Lord’s. However, the dream was shattered shortly after the drinks break when Stokes mistimed a delivery from Josh Hazlewood, skying it towards the field, where Carey completed the catch. At that point, England still needed 70 runs to win.
The Australian bowlers were determined to ensure that subsequent batsmen’s time at the crease remained brief. They capitalized on the pressure created by Stokes’ dismissal and kept the scoring rate in check, eventually wrapping up the English innings. This brought an end to a remarkable match, reminiscent of the 2019 Headingley Test, where Stokes had also stood tall against all odds.
In that epic encounter, Stokes had batted alongside Jack Leach, who would ultimately remain unbeaten on just one run. That solitary run would etch its place in cricketing history as the “greatest single ever taken.” The Headingley Test had a similar storyline, with Stokes displaying incredible resilience and finding an unyielding ally in Leach, together creating a partnership that defied belief.
Both matches showcased the indomitable spirit of Ben Stokes, who continues to amaze cricket fans with his heroic performances. The drama, tension, and sheer brilliance displayed on the cricket field makes these matches timeless classics, forever etching themselves into the annals of cricketing folklore.