On This Day - The miracle of the 2019 Ashes Test in Leeds, thanks to Ben Stokes

2019 was proving to be a miracle year for England cricket. Eoin Morgan, the captain of the side in ODIs, finally ended a 44-year wait as he won the ICC Cricket World Cup in a pulsating final. The epic at Lord’s saw England and New Zealand tie the normal game and the super over. England were declared the winners of the tournament due to a superior boundary count. There were two individuals responsible for this feat. One was Jofra Archer, the other was Ben Stokes.

Stokes, the New Zealand-born athlete playing for England, had hurt his country of birth on the big stage. He had acquired the reputation of being one of the best all-rounders in the business. The World Cup win only cemented his reputation. After hurting New Zealand, he was going to pile on more pain to their Trans-Tasman rival Australia in the Ashes.

The 2019 Ashes, which followed the World Cup, had not started well for England. They lost a Test in Edgbaston, their fortress for the last 18 years thanks to a splendid effort by Steve Smith who hit two centuries. The Lord’s Test was drawn, but England had taken out Smith when Jofra Archer hurled a 96mph thunderbolt bouncer which hit Smith on the side of the neck. Heading into Leeds, both sides were still on an even keel.

Miracle of Leeds Part 1

Leeds is often associated with an England miracle in the 1981 Ashes series. Trailing by a big margin and in danger of an innings defeat, Sir Ian Botham played the innings of his life to completely turn the tables. Botham notched up a century and it gave the England bowlers something to bowl at. The odds of England winning the Test match was still placed 500-1. But, Bob Willis took 8/43 and bowled unchanged as England won the Ashes Test in grand style.

The win did not just change England’s fortunes in 1981, but it summed up the brilliance of Botham. His all-round skills meant that England won the Ashes in grand style, leading to the series being named ‘Botham’s Ashes’. 38 years later, the situation was almost the same. Surely, lightning would not strike at the same place. England did have a reputation of doing something out of the ordinary in Leeds. In the 2001 Ashes Test against Australia, Mark Butcher had hit 173 and given England a rousing win in their chase of 315.

In Leeds 2019, England was down and almost out. Australia was bowled out for 179 thanks to Jofra Archer’s 6/45. But, England was shot out for 67. Australia batted more positively in the second innings and set the hosts a target of 359. Surely, a bridge too far.

Leeds miracle part 2 thanks to Ben Stokes

England had batted with intent in the second innings, with Joe Root and Joe Denly smashing fifties. But, once they fell, it all went downhill for England. They were reduced to 286/9 and were seemingly out of the contest. But, one player was determined to hurt the Australians in a big way. That individual was Ben Stokes.

So far in the Ashes, Stokes had a very quiet series. But, on the bigger occasion and in the big-match situation, the match-winning abilities of Stokes came out in the middle. He only had Jack Leach for company. Leach was best known as a night watchman who was promoted to open the batting against Ireland and he hit 92. But, this was a pressure situation that far exceeded any in his life.

But, Ben Stokes was motivated by a couple of sledges. For one, David Warner was constantly at Stokes. One had to remember that the Australian team was in the process of ‘reform’ in the aftermath of sandpapergate in South Africa. The nice guy image that they were trying to build was not been adhered to entirely. Warner was leading the charge and this motivated Stokes even further. In an extract in his book ‘On Fire’, Stokes said, “He just wouldn’t shut up for most of my time out there. I could accept it from just about any other opponent. Truly. Not from him, though.The changed man he was adamant he’d become, the one that hardly said boo to a goose and even went as far as claiming he had been re-nicknamed ‘Humble’ by his Australia teammates, had disappeared.”

Ben Stokes gives England a big win

But, England were not going to be denied in a year that had seen miracles in the most epic way. With Leach for company, Stokes managed to turn the tables on Australia. Switching to hitting sixes and fours, Stokes was in prime form. He was also helped by the fact that Australia also messed up in a tense situation.

Stokes was dropped by Marcus Harris at the third man region after he had gotten his century. Australia also wasted a review against Jack Leach when the ball was pitching well outside leg stump. That was one instance which would haunt the Aussies. With just two runs needed for England and with Stokes going hammer and tongs, the defining moment of the Test occurred.

There was a mix-up between Stokes and Leach, with the non-striker almost getting to the middle of the pitch and turning back. Nathan Lyon could have calmly collected the throw and whipped the stumps off. But, he could not collect it cleanly and Leach survived. The force was with England. It was now evident that nothing could stop England’s charge.

Stokes then pounced upon a short ball from Pat Cummins and thrashed it to the boundary for an epic win. This was the highest successful chase in Tests for England. After the 2019 World Cup win, one thought whether cricket would get as exciting as this.

The brilliance of Stokes

In the space of two months, Stokes had played a part in two epic moments in world cricket. 2019 final and the Ashes Test in Leeds. Nothing in cricket is bigger than the World Cup and the Ashes. Stokes had left his imprint in the world with staggering performance.

IT was hard to describe the feeling of some of the players after the match. There was universal acclaim that the knock by Stokes was the best in the modern era. His unbeaten 135 was on a different level altogether. England had leveled the series 1-1. When asked what was the prime factor behind his success, Stokes gave a tasty response. “My wife and kids came down and they got there at around 10 o’clock. My wife walked into me eating pasta in my boxer shorts! Last night, I think had a knock-off Nandos (fried chicken) and two (chocolate) bars of Yorkie biscuit and raisin. And a couple of coffees in the morning,” Stokes said.

But, the mental strength of the Australian side was evident. Steve Smith, who had missed the Leeds Test due to a concussion, was back and hit a double century in Old Trafford. Australia regained the Ashes for the first time in 18 years on English soil. Despite the miracle of Stokes, Australia wrested control of the Urn. But, the cricketing world still went ga-ga over the achievement of Ben Stokes and his miracle at Leeds.