Headingley 1981 was a foregone conclusion compared with this. So, too, the World Cup final in July, as Ian Botham’s incredible exploits of 38 years ago have been matched, maybe surpassed. Sun 25 Aug 2019 19.09 BST 135 not out off 219 balls (330 mins, 11x4’s, 8x6’s) 3 runs off first 73 balls . - Getty Images. The message at the break was just to be patient and stick to our plans. Bespectacled and bald, Jack Leach embraces his cult hero status and says he makes people think 'that could be me'. With World Cup-winning leg-spinner Adil Rashid injured, Leach suddenly found himself unexpectedly thrust back into the Test side. Umpire Joel Wilson’s finger failed to appear but the realisation that the Australians were unable to ask for a review did come to light. The subsequent replay demonstrated that Stokes would have been out if it had been possible to review the decision. The main reason to have the meeting the next day was to review what had happened the day before. That was not his goal. Jack Leach put his cult hero status down to looking like a "village cricketer" after his key supporting role enabled Ben Stokes to steer England to a staggering victory in the third Ashes Test. We also felt that Stokes could’ve easily hit one straight up in the air or made some sort of mistake, which he did, but unfortunately we didn’t take the opportunity. After that it was relatively plain sailing. Paine took the new ball as soon as it became available. Even the first four overs of the day, which were all maidens, somehow added to the tension. "I would really regret it if they had been smudged and I'd got out, then the cameras zoom in on the glasses and they say, 'he didn't clean his glasses'. Ben Stokes was batting very well, but we still all believed we could win. As the 10th-wicket partnership between Stokes and Jack Leach was playing out, was the plan to go after Leach or get rid of Stokes? To watch the way guys like Steve Smith and Pat Cummins played in the series was great, and just to be a part of the team that retained the Ashes was brilliant and something I will cherish forever. At the break, before the run chase began, what was the message from coach Justin Langer and skipper Tim Paine? The sight of Leach carefully polishing his glasses as England closed on their record fourth-innings winning total also endeared him to the crowd. I think, in hindsight, it was a good thing for us to sit through it straightaway the next day so that we could deal with what had just happened and put it to bed. Yes, at times in the history of the Ashes the English have had some great moments and series. England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. What was the context of the meeting? Unusually, Leach was left on strike as Cummins ran in at the start of the next over. "I was watching the World Cup final as a fan and that showed that anything is possible," he said. But I think it was just one of those days where it doesn’t go your way. All rights reserved. ", We can confirm we will offer Jack Leach free glasses for life https://t.co/7rfPBK77GS. When Leach came into bat, it seemed England's chances of a win had evaporated. One ball remained and Stokes decided to explore the legside this time. This was beyond Roy of the Rovers. To continue enjoying Sportstar, you can turn off your adblocker or subscribe to Sportstar Plus. by Wisden Staff July 17, 2020 - 4:51pm 2 minute read. Could you walk us through the final hour of the match? 283 for nine. It seemed the obvious thing to do yet it led to a sudden acceleration in the run rate. James Anderson: 'Ben Stokes is the best all-rounder I've played with'. At 0-1 down and 286-9 while chasing 359, England needed Stokes, its hero all summer long, to keep its hopes alive in the Test match. But on a day like this who cares about rankings anyway? ", Leach, whose tail-end resistance has seen him offered free glasses for life by series sponsors Specsavers in a response to a suggestion on Twitter from Stokes, added: "I'm just enjoying playing for England. Leach would have likely been watching the Headingley match on television too had not rival spinner Moeen Ali been dropped after a woeful display in the series opener at Edgbaston. The fielders were spread far and wide but still he hit Lyon for two consecutive sixes, the second of which was the most preposterous switch-hit into the Western Terrace. - Getty Images. With having the home crowd on their side and Ben Stokes in the form of his life, I think that helped them get across the line. Upon reaching his 100, the best of his career (he will have to live with that knowledge now – and it was far better than his 258 in Cape Town), he did not celebrate. Chris Woakes, mindful that a bouncer barrage was on its way, was lodged on the back foot when driving at a rare full ball and caught at mid-off. Ben Stokes was batting very well, but we still all believed we could win." Lastly, what was the experience like for you, going through such a high-octane series and coming back home with the urn? By a metre or so it cleared the rope. He did not quite time it perfectly but he does not have to. Like I said before, it always felt like we could win. Justin Langer wanted you all to sit down the next morning and watch the final moments on replay. But having seen, albeit as a fan watching television, Stokes star in England's World Cup final triumph against New Zealand with 84 not out at Lord's six weeks earlier, Leach had faith even when all seemed lost. Stokes was on strike from Nathan Lyon, and attempted another reverse sweep. The way Ben Stokes was playing, we were obviously trying to get him off strike and give us a chance to bowl to Leach. No matter; there were two deliveries left and after his recent pyrotechnics surely Stokes would now deliver the final blow. It was a tough meeting to sit in and review the entire last partnership. 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He flicked a short ball from Cummins over his left shoulder for another brilliantly improvised six. Ben Stokes hailed batting partner Jack Leach after they put on a 10th-wicket partnership of 76 to seal the most unlikely Test victory and keep the Ashes series alive. Bairstow was caught in the slips for a very handy 36 then Jos Buttler was probably a victim of poor calling from Stokes. But even in the latest series we still managed to retain the Ashes on their home soil and we should’ve won the series. Marcus Harris: "The last hour was a roller-coaster of emotions. Slow but mightily steady, Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes’ partnership on days one and two of England’s second Test against West Indies was music to the ears of the hosts. Do the Aussies feel that for all their collective effort in the Ashes, at times one great England all-rounder, be it Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff or Stokes, dashes their plans? RELATED| Leach’s first run in the partnership had levelled the scores. Gradually, after hours of abstinence, Stokes began to find the odd boundary. For the previous hour the vast majority of the fielders had been stationed on the boundary when he was on strike. "Maybe people think 'that could be me' because all the others look pretty professional. Meanwhile, Leach ostensibly remained calm, despite the fact that his glasses kept steaming up. Where do you think the tables turned? But it was also a good learning experience to review and see where we maybe could’ve done things differently. One run would be sufficient for a tie, two for victory. In came Cummins again; Stokes crashed the ball to the cover boundary and the most amazing Test match of all was over. Now Leach, with his unassuming West Country gait, walked out to join Stokes with 73 runs needed for victory. Ben Stokes struck eight sixes and 11 fours in a memorable unbeaten 135 that will go down as one of the greatest knocks in Test cricket. The next ball was cut by Stokes straight to one of the fielders now close enough to save the single. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Stats: The numbers behind the Stokes-Sibley marathon. This must have felt claustrophobic for Stokes. Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner. But having made 92 as nightwatchman in a Test against Ireland at Lord's last month, Leach hung in for an hour. It had been a good game. Leach started scrambling a run; Stokes sent him back but it was clear as the throw from Pat Cummins headed towards Lyon that England’s valiant No 11 would be stranded. Leach’s first run in the partnership had levelled the scores. Last wicket partnership 76. Jack leach faced only 17 balls in an hour (for 1*) At long-off Marnus Labuschagne circled; at the bowler’s end Lyon squinted towards the boundary, urging the ball to stay in play. First published on Sun 25 Aug 2019 16.18 BST. Jofra Archer swished three boundaries but was then well caught in the deep by Head and Stuart Broad was palpably lbw to his second delivery. Writers struggle to find enough adjectives for accounts of this innings. At lunch England, on 238 for four, might have been favourites, though this realisation did not seem to do them much good.
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