Ben Stokes smashes a spectacular ton (Source: @ICC/x.com)
When the Ashes are on, every run, wicket, and catch becomes legendary. More than ordinary performance, the electrifying series remembers some last-ball victories, some hard-fought wins, or some last-minute heroics, just as Ben Stokes did in 2019.
In the 2019 Ashes, arch-rivals England and Australia clashed on testing English soil, and the Headingley Test became a classic stage for Ben Stokes’ heroics. When all hope seemed Stokes’ brilliance turned the tide.
Among all the outstanding knocks of Ashes history, this knock still stands tall against time. Let’s rediscover his heroics on that day.
Leeds turns hostile for England amid Aussie onslaught
The Ashes isn’t just a series; it’s a battlefield, and England felt it harder in the Headingley Test in the Ashes 2019. While batting first in the match, Australia faced some early blows, but David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne’s 111-run partnership turned the tide. The duo smashed half-centuries, and Australia put on a total of 179 runs.
After the Aussies ended their innings with a low total, England eyed domination, but Australia’s bowling masterclass flipped the script. Josh Hazlewood’s fifer and Pat Cummins’ magical spell bundled England out for just 67 runs, flipping the script in a stunning turnaround.
On their own home soil, the English side didn’t even imagine the humiliation, but the Australian side made Leeds into their fort. Coming to bat in the second innings, Australia put on a total of 246 runs, and Labuschagne shone with a fine 80.
Stokes emerges as England’s last hope in tumultuous Test
Coming to bat in the second innings, England needed 359 runs to stop the humiliation in their own backyard. Coming to open the innings, Rory Burns and Jason Roy returned early as England lost the first two wickets in just 15 runs. After that, captain Joe Root and Joe Denly’s 126-run stand gave hope to the English side.
After their dismissal, Australia put on massive pressure on the home side, and England needed a hero to take off the pressure, and Ben Stokes came to the crease. Standing at that point, Stokes needed a partner for a quick revival, but the English batters failed to back him.
After losing consecutive wickets, England was 286/9, leaving one wicket in hand, having Jack Leach on the crease with Stokes. In this high-pressure moment, the stage was set for a star to shine, and Ben Stokes delivered a masterclass the cricketing world would never forget.
The moment was nothing less than a thriller where Australia needed Stokes' wicket, but the English batter refused to leave the 22 yards until the job was done. Dominating the Australian bowlers, Stokes smashed big hits all over the ground, leaving the mighty Aussies in trouble.
Standing on the brink of defeat, Stokes smashed an outstanding century and kept swinging the bat on high. Showcasing the biggest example of immense grit, with an unbeaten 135, he secured England’s thrilling 1-wicket victory.
Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 135 wasn’t just a knock; it was a masterclass under pressure. Every victory over the rivals is special, but the nerve-wrecking victory adds extra thrills to their rivalry. In the Ashes history, his knock will be a forever iconic one.
