Stokes admits he COULDN'T watch the final part of England's tense win
Ben Stokes admits he COULDN’T watch the final stages of England’s dramatic win at Headingley… as he warns Australia that his side can get even better
- England narrowly beat Australia at Headingley to keep their Ashes hopes alive
- The win reduced Australia’s lead in the Ashes to 2-1 with two games left to play
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Ben Stokes revealed he could not bring himself to watch England’s latest nerve-shredding Headingley triumph — but insisted the way his side won will give them the belief they can reclaim the Ashes.
Four years after he was the hero in their famous one-wicket victory against Australia here in Leeds, Stokes hid in the dressing room yesterday as Harry Brook, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood saw them home to pull the series back to 2-1.
But the England captain believes the manner of their tense three-wicket victory will help them mentally ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford — and has warned Australia that his team can still play even better.
‘I was a bit nervous at the end. I didn’t actually watch the last 20 runs being scored,’ admitted Stokes.
‘I walked about 2km around the Headingley dressing room in the last half an hour.
Ben Stokes revealed he could not watch England’s latest nerve-shredding Headingley triumph
Chris Woakes and Mark Wood got the hosts over the line in dramatic fashion on the fourth day
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‘It is completely different when you can’t influence the game any more and you are watching and hoping things are going to go your way.
‘But the whole performance from bat, ball and in the field was an unbelievable effort from everybody. If you look at the first two games in terms of how tight they were, getting over the line in another tight game can mentally help.
‘We’re over the moon that we won this one, but it’s just the start of what we need to do. We’ve kept the series alive and we just have to park everything from this week, but continue the way we play. I still think we can be better.’
England started day four on 27 without loss in pursuit of 251, knowing that defeat would give Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead.
But Yorkshire batsman Harry Brook, back at No 5 after Moeen Ali was surprisingly promoted to No 3, hit 75 on his home ground.
Stokes also warned Australia and their skipper Pat Cummins that England can play even better
The recalled Chris Woakes and Mark Wood then put on an unbroken 24 for the eighth wicket, with Woakes hitting the winning runs with a four towards a jubilant Western Terrace to finish on 32.
‘It’s a phenomenal win and sets up the rest of the series,’ said Brook.
‘I don’t think I can believe it yet, to do it here in front of my home crowd. I know quite a few people in there and they will probably be getting dragged off the pavement later!’
Wood, named man of the match after taking seven wickets, said: ‘To be there at the end was special. Chris Woakes is my good mate, we have car shared all week. We said in that car space that we will try and get plenty of runs and wickets. So that’s a lucky car!’
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