Barely a month after his valiant knock in the 2019 World Cup final, Ben Stokes on Sunday again pulled off a blinder for England in the third Test of the ongoing Ashes series.
The match was full of drama where both the teams had to go through the roller coaster ride but it was umpire Joel Wilson’s verdict towards the end of the match that decided its fate.
It all happened when England needed 2 runs and Australia needed just one wicket to win the match. Stokes was on the strike when a Nathan Lyon-delivery caught him right in front of the sticks. All that followed the scene was a massive shout for LBW but Wilson adjudged Stokes not out. Meanwhile, Australia had wasted both of their reviews and had to settle down with the decision. Later, Stokes hit a boundary to bag England the match.
The fact that Wilson’s decision was wrong and that cost Australia the match, Wilson has been facing backlash from the Australians since then.
Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten 135 and produced a match-winning 76 run partnership with number 11 No. batsman Jack Leach to register a memorable win for England as they chased down the target of 359 runs — highest successful chase for England.
It is to note that during the 76-run partnership, Leach contributed with only one run. Stokes scored 11 boundaries and eight sixes in arguably one of the best knocks by an England batsman in the fourth innings of a Test Match.
The five-match series is at 1-1 with two matches to go.