London: Ben Stokes accepts his match-winning Headingley heroics in the third Ashes Test will count for little unless England reclaim the Ashes.
The all-rounder shone in England's dramatic one-wicket victory, scoring a brilliant 135 not out as Joe Root's side chased down a record target of 359.
Australia would have retained the urn had they triumphed in Leeds, but Stokes' exceptional knock means the series is all square ahead of next week's fourth Test at Old Trafford.
"I don't think it has completely sunk in yet and the main reason for that is we have two games to go," Stokes told Sky Sports News.
"It was an amazing week in Headingley and something that will be very hard to forget, but we still have a long way to go.
"If we don't get the Ashes back what will it feel like? I will only take real satisfaction from the innings if we win back the Ashes."
Ben Stokes produced one of the great Test innings at Headingley.Credit: AP
Stokes praised the contribution of England's last man and new cult hero Jack Leach, who faced 17 deliveries for his one run at Headingley.
The pair put on 74 in the space of an hour to frustrate Australia, who had bowled the hosts out for 67 in the first innings.
"It was a pretty iconic picture, Jack Leach cleaning his glasses after every ball and the video of him running down the pitch has gone viral as well," Stokes added.
"He has to take a lot of credit from the game because the 17 balls he faced are probably the most crucial he will ever face in his career."
The 28-year-old suggested the remarkable result means that England will go into the fourth Test with a huge amount of belief, and that the broader importance of an English summer featuring both the World Cup and Ashes isn't lost on him.
"Momentum is huge in sport and I'm 100 per cent sure when Stuart Broad got out Australia would have thought they will have the Ashes by the end of the day, so we go into the next match with a lot of confidence," he said.
"We are very aware as a team and as players that we have a responsibility to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
"What we did in the first half of the summer [winning the World Cup] helped us to do that and if we win the Ashes hopefully it will help produce more cricketers out of England over the next 20 years."
PA