ON THIS DAY
Follow UsAn overcast day, an all-rounder at the crease, a sold-out Headingley, and the series at stake - the Britishers had experienced it before. Ian Botham’s unbeaten 149-run knock against Australia in 1981 is well-etched in cricket folklore even today, but no one thought lightning would strike twice.
Australia were leading the 2019 Ashes 1-0 after two matches, and another win would have helped the visitors take the run home. Hosts England, on the other hand, were still recovering from a massive 251-run defeat in the first Test, although they had managed to draw the second Test and give themselves a fighting chance.
Amidst all this was the Headingley pitch, which has a nature of its own. After England had wrapped up Australia for a meager 179 runs in the first innings, they were themselves all-0ut for 67 runs. Josh Hazelwood’s five-fer and Pat Cummins’ three-wicket haul had ensured that Australia led 112 runs before their second dig in the third Test.
Headingly being a bowler’s paradise thus far and England batter’s shambolic collapse in the first innings had meant that any target above 250 runs would be an uphill task for the hosts. And Australia did much better in their second attempt.
A calm and composed innings by Marnus Labuschagne (80 runs), who was supported by Matthew Wade to some extent, saw Australia set a target of 359 runs on the third day. With more than two days to go, all three results were possible and England started on an optimistic note after openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy had departed early.
Skipper Joe Root had forged a 126-run partnership with Joe Denly before the latter’s late dismissal had brought Ben Stokes to the crease, and England had retired on Day 3 with 203 runs required to win with seven wickets in hand.
The Loiners had every reason to fill the Headingley stands on Day 4, as England started the day as the favorites. But, the optimism soon vanished as Root departed after adding just two more runs to his tally, and England were only left with three proper batsmen (Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Chris Woakes) alongside Stokes to get over the rope.
Both Stokes and Bairstow looked good at the lunch break, with England standing at 238/4 with one and a half day to go. But nothing could prepare the viewers for what would come next in a seemingly straightforward game. By the time the players had broken for drinks next, Stokes had scored a fifty, but England had lost all three batters - Bairstow (36), Buttler (1) and Woakes (1).
The tables had turned and with Aussie pacers spitting fire now and the hosts being far from favourites. Though Jofra Archer could bat, his pyrotechnics didn't exude hope and Australia were too smart and experienced to loosen their grip now.
England were soon reduced to 286/9. They had lost five wickets since lunch, scoring just 48 runs in almost 20 overs. When Jack Leach came to bat for the 10th wicket, England needed 73 runs to win.
"When Leachy came in it was pretty clear what had to be done. Leachy's done it before – a super nightwatchman ended up getting 92 [in the Lord's Test against Ireland] – so I backed him knowing what he had to do,” Stokes had said after the game.
The only positive going England’s way was Ben Stokes, who was hitting the ball pretty well, but he had the challenge of keeping Leach away from the receiving end. The odds were terrible, and Stokes had nothing to lose, so he decided to do what he does best - watch the ball and give his best swing.
He would bring his century in 199 balls and forge a 50-run partnership for the 10th wicket. But what gave the England fans hope was Stokes’ reverse slog-sweep sixer off Nathan Lyon. If fate had brought England to their knees at Headingley, it had also provided the team with the means to stand back up.
"When [the victory target] got down to the 20s, I started thinking I could probably rein it in a little bit, but when it was up in the 70s, 60s, 50s, I thought I had to really try and go. I was so in the zone of what I had to do," Stokes would later say.
Stokes had the grit and self-belief to take England over the line, but he also needed luck. That came when the hosts required just two runs to win. After Lyon fumbled an easy run-out of Leach, Stokes was given not-out after the ball clearly hit his leg before the wicket. Australia didn’t have any review left to take.
Stokes would seal the match with a boundary and although he came close to being dismissed on multiple occasions, he never changed his approach, thus proving the old adage true once again that “Fortune always favours the bold.”
