Ashes 2023: Tough one to swallow after getting so close – Ben Stokes after loss at Lord’s

The Ashes have lived up to all the expectations. In 2019, Ben Stokes pulled off a heist at Headingley with his magnificent 135*. Four years later, in the second Test at Lord’s against Australia, Ben Stokes almost gave the same nightmares to the touring party.

Stokes went on to score a magnum opus knock of 155 runs but his heroics went in vain as the hosts ended up losing by 43 wickets. The England skipper admitted it is a tough pill to swallow as they were so close to the win.

After Jonny Bairstow was stumped in a controversial manner by Alex Carey, Stokes, and Lord’s crowd came alive. Australian fast bowlers’ plan of bowling short against the duo of Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad went awry as the former dispatched most of the balls in the stands, smashing nine fours and as many sixes en route to one of his best Test knocks ever.

The left-handed duo added 108 runs to give more than a glimmer of hope to the home team. However, after Stokes was finally dismissed by Josh Hazlewood, the inevitable was on the cards.

England have slipped 0-2 down in the Ashes but Ben Stokes still has the belief in his team to turn the tables in the remaining three matches.

Stokes said in the post-match presentation, “Having experienced something similar, you are able to look back at it. Did take a lot out of Headingley but unfortunately not to be. Definitely felt we had a shout, but Australia changed their plans and that changed things for me. I had to take my risks to the longer side of the ground. Tough one to swallow, but it was a fantastic game. We are 2-0 down but we got 3 games to go. We have won 3-0 against Pakistan, 3-0 against NZ so we have the belief that we can do it.”

The England skipper added he and head coach Brendon McCullum tries to give clarity to all the players in the way they want to play. Stokes revealed every player has the dressing room’s backing when he plays in the middle.

Stokes added, “Reckless is an easy word to use, what me and Brendon have done is give guys complete clarity. We don’t ask them to play a certain way, but if they play a certain way they have the full backing of the dressing room. So the message out there is to play with clarity, I might play a bowler differently than someone else but when we are walking out there we have complete clarity.”

The third Ashes Test will be played at Leeds, Headingley from Thursday onwards.