'Who I Would Want To Be At The Crease From The Past 30 Years' - Nasser Hussain Hails Ben Stokes
Britain Cricket England Australia Ashes [AP]
Nasser Hussain has praised current England Test captain Ben Stokes after his spectacular 155, which gave Australia a scare on Day 5 of the Lord’s Test. Hussain describes Stokes as the most competitive England cricketer in his time, he further added that the batter’s knock was a truly howling innings.
Hussain wrote in the column for the Daily Mail, saying the current English Test captain showed his team-mates what playing for England is all about.
"Ben Stokes showed his colleagues in the dressing room what playing for his England team is all about on Sunday - and there is no better cricketer in my era in that kind of situation. Ask me who I would want to be at the crease from the past 30 years and it would be Stokes," the erstwhile commentator said.
"He has done it so many times, whether it be the World Cup final, World Twenty20 final or Headingley four years ago and it was remarkable on Sunday that he almost added another match-winning masterclass to his portfolio. That was a truly incredible innings."
In the second Ashes 2023 Test at Lord's Cricket Ground, Australia defeated England by 43 runs. Chasing 371, England was bowled out for 327 on Day 5, however, as long as Stokes was out in the middle, the hosts’ hopes were still alive.
Carrying on with his innings on his overnight score of 29, the dynamic left-handed batter striked nine fours and as many sixes in a thrilling counter-attack that was similar to his Headingley epic from 2019.
However, Stokes was set aside with England 70 away from the target after which Australia eased to victory.
On Day 5, England began their second innings with a score of 114/4. Ben Stokes' 155 in the second innings was outstanding, but even before that he had helped England's batting performance in their first innings by adding some common sense and flogged himself through a 12-over period on day four.
Stokes' heroic knock became the highest individual score by an England captain in the fourth innings of a Test match, leaving cricket enthusiasts abuzz with admiration.
Stokes is the most competitive England cricketer: Hussain
"I haven't seen a more competitive England cricketer in my time than Stokes and it’s amazing too how often he gets the ball out of the middle of the bat in these kinds of situations when all the fielders are on the rope. If he doesn’t clear them, he gets it in the gaps."
Former England captain suggested that Australia had lost the plot during the phase when Stokes decided to go on an all-out attack. He further compared Stokes to the likes of Sir Viv Richards.
"Maybe Viv Richards is the only cricketer I have seen able to hit the ball into the gap or out of the ground as well as Stokes. Greatness is a word we use with Viv. It’s one fitting too for Stokes."
Summing up his thoughts on England’s performance in second Ashes, the former captain stated that the hosts could have been 2-0 up had they been a tad more quick-witted.
The 3rd Test of Ashes 2023 will take place between Thursday, July 6 and Monday, July 10 with all five days starting at 11 a.m.
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