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Ashes 2019: Ben Stokes century seals thrilling England victory in Third Test at Headingley

One of the greatest innings in Ashes history steered England to a seemingly impossible win | VIDEO

Peter Lalor and Daniel Sankey
15 min read
9:38AMAugust 26, 2019.
Updated 11:24AMAugust 26, 2019
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"Losing hurts, but we won't be sulking about it for long": Tim Paine

THIRD TEST: ENGLAND 67 and 9-362 (Ben Stokes 135no, Joe Root 77, Joe Denly 50, Josh Hazlewood 4-85, Nathan Lyon 2-114) defeated AUSTRALIA 179 and 246 by 1 wicket.

Forget Ian Botham’s efforts in 1981, forget Don Bradman and Arthur Morris’s in 1948 — Ben Stokes has single handedly pulled off one of the most remarkable Ashes victories in a place where the remarkable happens.

Stokes was incredible. Indomitable. Unbelievable. So was England’s historic 359 run chase at Headingley — the side’s highest successful fourth innings score.

Australia cost themselves the Test match by wasting a review and missing a run out in the dramatic final moments.

■ BELOW: Recap our live coverage, including videos of all the key moments

Ricky Ponting said on air the misuse of the DRS cost the side the Test.

England’s Ben Stokes, right, and Jack Leach celebrate their victory in the Third Test at Headingley. Picture: AP
England’s Ben Stokes, right, and Jack Leach celebrate their victory in the Third Test at Headingley. Picture: AP

Stokes scored 75 runs with the last batsman Jack Leach, slogging sixes during the overs and running singles at their end. A reverse sweep for six was matched by a ramp over his head for a similar result from the bowling of Pat Cummins.

Leach scored a single run in the 76-run partnership.

Stokes finished on 135no.

Despairing Australian fielders leapt in vain as balls sailed over their heads. Bowlers watched with mouths agape as he slapped them around at will.

One skied ball evaded Marcus Harris, at third man, the next David Warner at deep cover. There were inches in both.

A six in the second last over just evaded Marnus Labuschagne.

Nathan Lyon had the chance to win the match but fumbled a run out return from Pat Cummins when England needed just two to win.

The bowler fell on his back pleading for an LBW from the next delivery to Stokes but they had wasted their last review in the previous over.

Both stemguards are knocked from Ben Stokes’ helmet as he’s hit in the heat by a Josh Hazlewood bouncer. Picture: AFP
Both stemguards are knocked from Ben Stokes’ helmet as he’s hit in the heat by a Josh Hazlewood bouncer. Picture: AFP

A review would have been successful but there were none left.

“Never give up, it’s not over until it’s over,” Stokes said in his post-match interview.

“When Leachy came in, it was pretty clear what had to be done. Just say five and one, you know, ‘I’ll take five (deliveries), and you take one’. Leachy’s done it before, you see him — super night watchman getting 92 (against Ireland at Lord’s), so I backed him.

“I couldn’t watch at the end, I couldn’t watch the balls going down (from the non-striker’s end), I was just waiting to see what happened.”

Stokes said the stirring victory was on a par with the jubilation he felt when England won the Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand last month.

Ben Stokes acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the ground after sealing victory for England. Picture: Getty Images
Ben Stokes acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the ground after sealing victory for England. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s right up there. We had to win this game to stay in the Ashes. We’ve managed to do it — we’ve managed to keep our hopes alive of doing the double and we’re going to take a lot of momentum (into the Fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester).

Australian captain Tim Paine admitted it was “hard to take” to lose from the position Australia was in, needing just one wicket with more than 70 runs still required by England.

A shattered Nathan Lyon (front) and Usman Khawaja come to terms with defeat. Picture: Getty Images
A shattered Nathan Lyon (front) and Usman Khawaja come to terms with defeat. Picture: Getty Images

“But you’ve got to tip your hat sometimes — I thought Ben Stokes played an unbelievable innings and in the end it was too good for us,” he said.

“It’s probably the best Test innings I’ve seen and I think the rest of the team thought the same thing, so it was well played to Ben.

“We thought we had enough runs and I thought yesterday our bowlers did a tremendous job to put us in the position we were. We thought if we continued that this morning we’d create enough chances to win the game. In the end we probably did, but as I said Ben’s played an unbelievable innings, I thought Denly and Root were both excellent and kept them in the hunt, and in the end it was an excellent Test match.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking from the G7 world leaders summit in Biarritz, said he was expecting a ribbing from UK prime minister Boris Johnson when they met.

“I’m sure he will give me a hard time about the fact they clipped us in the latest Ashes, — which many of you from other countries wouldn’t have the faintest idea what I’m talking about — but the Australian journalist and British journalists will know very very well.”

— with Simon Benson

—

Daniel Sankey 2.32am: Odds fluctuate wildly in thrilling Test

Spare a thought for the odds makers who were working around the clock responding to the wild fluctuations in fortunes of both teams throughout the Fourth Test.

On the final day, England were made a $3 chance of winning the Test. They shortened to $1.45 when Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow reduced the deficit to 120 runs at 4-238, then blew out to $21 when Stuart Broad was dismissed for a duck to make it 9-286.

“One TAB punter will rue Australia’s inability to claim the final wicket — which would have ensured the Aussies retained the Ashes — after plonking $100,000 at $1.32 on Australia during the first session on Day 4,” a TAB spokesman said.

“There was one TAB customer who was cheering for England during the successful run chase as they placed a $50 wager at $21, which eventually provided a $1000 profit, when England were 9/286.”

Here’s how the odds fluctuated with the TAB before and during the Third Test:

The wild fluctuations of the TAB odds during the Third Test.
The wild fluctuations of the TAB odds during the Third Test.

Daniel Sankey 1.17am: Stokes seals victory for England

Arise, Sir Ben Stokes.

The England all-rounder has sealed a record-breaking Test victory with one of the best innings seen in Ashes cricket in years.

Stokes’ sublime 135 not out was the key to chasing down 359 for victory — an English record for a fourth innings chase in a Test match.

But that is only part of the story as Australia blew three chances for victory — the first when Marcus Harris dropped a tough chance off Stokes at third man with 17 needed for victory, the second when Nathan Lyon fumbled what would have been a simple run out chance with just 2 runs needed for victory, and a third the next ball later when a wasted review cost them the chance to review an LBW shout ruled not out by the field umpire that replays showed would have been given out.

In the end, Stokes and no.11 Jack Leach shared in an unbeaten 76-run partnership for the 10th wicket in one of the best days of Test cricket you’ll ever see.

England’s 9-362 is now their greatest run chase in Test cricket history, surpassing the 7-332 that England scored to beat Australia at the MCG all the way back in 1928.

Daniel Sankey 12.50am: Stokes edging England towards victory

Can Ben Stokes pull off the impossible? The England all-rounder has brought up a brilliant unbeaten century — his eighth in Test cricket — but importantly, England need just 33 runs for victory in the Third Test at Headingley.

Stokes has been absolutely, unbelievably good in this past half hour. He’s smashed Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins for sixes and he’s shielded no.11 Jack Leach from the strike.

How about this in the over to bring up his century, off Josh Hazlewood? He hit a boundary to notch his ton, then hit two consecutive sixes, a two and then a single to leave Jack Leach just one delivery to negotiate, which he did with aplomb.

England are now 9-341, needing just 18 for victory, and the England fans here at Headingley can feel it. Stokes is 114 not ouf (202 deliveries) and Leach is 0 not out (10 deliveries).

Daniel Sankey 12.17am: WICKET! Aussies one scalp away

James Pattinson has put Australia within one wicket of victory, trapping Stuart Broad LBW for a duck with a brilliant yorker. England are now 9-286 as no.11 Jack Leach makes his way to the middle.

Daniel Sankey 12.11am: WICKET! Archer falls to brilliant catch

Big hitting Jofra Archer (15, 33 deliveries) is gone thanks to a brilliant piece of outfielding by Travis Head. With Archer keen to attack, Nathan Lyon threw one up and Archer obliged, attempting to hit him over the midwicket boundary. However, he only succeeded in getting a top edge to it that sailed directly to Head on the boundary. Head had plenty of work to do, catching the ball just inside the field of play before tossing it into the air as momentum took him over the boundary, then stepping back onto the ground to claim it on the second attempt.

Australia need just two wickets for victory, while England need 73 runs. Stuart Broad is the new batsman, while Ben Stokes (61 not out, 174 deliveries) may now decide it’s time to start throwing the willow around.

Daniel Sankey 12.02am: Stokes fighting hard for England

Ben Stokes makes a statement in the last over before the drinks break, smashing Nathan Lyon to the long-on boundary to move to 60 not out (173 deliveries). With Jofra Archer (7 not out, 22 delvieries) providing more than able support at the other end, the crowd is getting right behind the England batsmen. Another 82 is required for victory, while for Australia, three wickets will get the job done.

Daniel Sankey 11.28pm: WICKET! Hazlewood gets a fourth

It’s a fourth wicket of the innings and ninth of the match for Josh Hazlewood, with Chris Woakes (1) holing out to Matthew Wade at a short, wide mid-off. It was an excellent piece of bowling from Hazlewood, who’d softened up Woakes with a series of short balls before throwing in a fuller, wider delivery that Woakes couldn’t help but drive. He was never quite to the pitch of the ball and spooned a simple catch to Wade — but credit must also go to captain Tim Paine for the fielding placement.

England now in real trouble at 7-261, still needing 989 for victory. Jofra Archer is the new batsman, with Ben Stokes still out there on 51 not out (153 deliveries).

Daniel Sankey 11.25pm: 50 up for Stokes

England’s hopes of victory rest on the shoulders of Ben Stokes, who’s just brought up his 19th Test 50. He’s 51 not out from 152 deliveries and while he’s in the middle, England are a chance of stealing victory.

Daniel Sankey 11.20pm: Aussies now warm favourites

Betting on the Third Test has again flipped on its head following the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler after lunch.

When Bairstow and Stokes went to lunch sharing an unbeaten 79-run partnership, the TAB had England as $1.45 favourites and Australia the $2.70 outsiders. If you fancied Australia then, you should have taken those odds ... Australia are now $1.42 favourites to win the match, with England at $2.80.

Daniel Sankey 11.09pm: WICKET! Buttler run out in horror mix-up

It’s a shocker for England as Jos Buttler (1) is run out after a mix-up with Ben Stokes and a direct hit from Travis Head.

Defending on the legside to Nathan Lyon, Stokes called for a quick single then immediately sent Buttler back, but the England no.7 was caught well short of his ground by a sharp underarm throw.

England slump to 6-253, still needing 106 for victory, with Stokes on 44 not out and Chris Woakes making his way to the middle.

Daniel Sankey 10.54pm: WICKET! Hazlewood dismisses Bairstow

A potentially match-winning breakthrough for Australia, with Josh Hazlewood suckering Jonny Bairstow (36) into a wild swipe at a short-pitched ball outside off stump. He gets a thick edge that goes straight into the safe hands of Marnus Labuschagne at a wide second slip and with that, Australia is back in the contest.

England fall to 5-245, chasing 359 for victory. Ben Stokes is not out on 37 and the next man in is Jos Buttler.

Daniel Sankey 10.47pm: Review saves Bairstow

Agony for Australia, with umpire Chris Gaffaney giving a caught behind appeal against Jonny Bairstow out off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, only for it to be overturned on review.

It was a curious decision from the on-field umpire as replays showed the ball passed the bat without getting close to the glove or bat.

Bairstow didn’t waste any time calling for the review and was proven correct almost immediately.

We’ve had two overs after the lunch break and England are 4-241, needing 118 for victory. Bairstow is 36 not out (67 deliveries) and Ben Stokes is 33 not out (123 deliveries).

Peter Lalor 10.04pm: England in cruise control

Trouble!

England’s middle order pair, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, have taken the game on, scoring freely from the second new ball.

The home side needs 121 to win the Test and draw the series and is in cruise control with six wickets in hand.

Australia managed to remove Joe Root (77) before the new ball was taken on the eighth over of the morning.

It took a brilliant catch from David Warner to end his innings, but the captain had provided a platform for his team which had been written off after the second day’s play.

The run rate, which had been barely a run per over leading up to the change accelerated to six an over with James Pattinson the most expensive of the bowlers.

The new ball had seemed to be the key to Australia ending England’s chances.

Stokes (32no) and Bairstow (34no) had got England to 4-238 at the break.

Daniel Sankey 10.02pm: LUNCH — England now favourites

In a Test match that’s had more twists and turns than a Muttiah Muralitharan doosra, England are now the betting favourites to win thanks to a sensational 79-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow (34 not out, 59 deliveries) and Ben Stokes (32 not out, 119 deliveries).

At lunch, England are 4-238, needing just 121 for victory with six wickets for a remarkable victory. The TAB has made England $1.45 favourites in live betting on the match, with Australia now $2.70 outsiders — basically the exact opposite of what the odds were at the start of today’s play.

The wicket of Joe Root (77) just before the second new ball was taken signalled a shift in mentality for England’s batsmen, who began taking the attack to Australia’s paceman — with great effect. Australia’s much vaunted pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson seemed to panic at the sudden onslaught, losing their line and length and giving England the chance to not only rotate the strike, but hit boundaries.

During the lunch break, Justin Langer will be keen to urge patience from his bowlers, who must be reminded that wickets have tended to fall in bunches throughout this Test.

Daniel Sankey 9.28pm: Things are getting tight

Half an hour or so ago, things seemed to be going exactly according to plan for Australia. They’d dismissed Joe Root before taking the new ball and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were fresh and ready to go.

Well, just scrap all of that.

Australian paceman James Pattinson, right, reacts as England’s Jonny Bairstow gets amongst the runs at Headingley. Picture: AP
Australian paceman James Pattinson, right, reacts as England’s Jonny Bairstow gets amongst the runs at Headingley. Picture: AP

The introduction of Jonny Bairstow at the fall of Joe Root’s wicket has completely changed the complexion of this match. The England wicketkeeper has taken on the Aussie quicks, taking 26 from just 36 deliveries which, when you consider Ben Stokes has needed 94 deliveries to reach 18 not out, is positively rocking along.

With each run, the noise of the England crowd has grown. No longer are the local fans daring to dream, they’re thinking they’re a real chance of victory — particularly given the Australian quicks just haven’t been able to get their line and length right with this second new ball.

After 88 overs, England are 4-215, needing 144 for victory with six wickets in hand. This is shaping as a thriller.

Daniel Sankey 9.04pm: DRINKS — England 4-186

England have not only successfully negotiated the first four overs of the new ball, but wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow has had the temerity to take the attack to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood since coming to the wicket at the fall of Joe Root’s wicket. Bairstow has moved along to 15 from just 25 deliveries to take England to 4-186 at drinks. With Ben Stokes (9, 81 deliveries) also unbeaten, England need 173 runs for victory with six wickets in hand.

Daniel Sankey 8.26pm: WICKET! Lyon snares Root

Nathan Lyon has his 356th Test wicket, and it’s a potentially match-winning one, with Joe Root’s brave knock coming to an end on 77 (206 deliveries) as he’s brilliantly caught by David Warner.

Root skipped up the pitch in an attempt to drive but was beaten in flight, getting an inside edge onto his pad that sailed over the head of wicketkeeper Tim Paine before being snaffled in a diving two-handed catch by Warner.

England are 4-159 after 77.3 overs with Ben Stokes joined in the middle by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. The hosts still need 200 for victory and the new ball is due in two-and-a-half overs’ time.

The catch is Warner’s sixth of the match, and for Lyon, his 356th Test wicket takes him past the great Dennis Lillee on the list of Australia’s all-time leading wicket-takers.

Nathan Lyon is now third on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers for Australia.
Nathan Lyon is now third on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers for Australia.

Daniel Sankey 8.19pm: Stokes cops sickening blow

Kudos to England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who’s somehow managed to shake off a sickening blow to the head from a brutal Josh Hazlewood bouncer.

As Stokes attempted to hook, the ball smashed into the grill of his helmet — in the process knocking off both the stem guards protecting his neck.

The England team doctor was quickly onto the field to ensure Stokes was feeling no ill effects, but the all-arounder had already composed himself and was attempting to reattach the stem guards by the time he got out into the middle.

Daniel Sankey 8.13pm: England wary early

England are certainly in no rush to pile on the runs first thing this morning ... we’ve had three maiden overs to open the day’s proceedings, bowled by James Pattinson (2) and Josh Hazlewood.

After 75 overs, Joe Root remains on 75no, Ben Stokes is 2no and England are 3-156, still needing 203 for victory — but importantly, the new ball is only five overs away.

Gideon Haigh 7.45pm: England’s hopes in Root’s hands

Seven wickets and 203 runs respectively separate Australia and England from history at Headingley today.

After their first innings pratfall of 67, England are a tidier three for 156 in their second innings, chasing the 359 which would square the 2019 Ashes. The sun is out, the pitch is playing truly, the fourth-day crowd is a sell-out, and the precedents of Headingley Tests of 1981 and 2001 are being freely invoked.

England captain Joe Root (right) gets up close and personal with Australian paceman James Pattinson yesterday. Picture: Getty Images
England captain Joe Root (right) gets up close and personal with Australian paceman James Pattinson yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

With the new ball eight overs away, however, it remains advantage Australia. England have never made more in the fourth innings of a Test than 332, which they did in Melbourne in January 1929, in the days of Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Yorkshireman Sutcliffe’s 135 offset Donald Bradman’s maiden Test century.

By coincidence, England’s hopes again repose in the hands of a Yorkshireman. England’s captain Joe Root resumes on 75 from 189 balls after nearly five hours of proverbially northern grit. It quieted calls for his replacement as captain, and reminded critics of his qualities as a batsman — his average in this England team is nearly a third greater than the next best. Seldom beaten, he offered no chances, and took no liberties.

Root played as though conscious that his wicket would change the complexion of the game. His overnight partner Ben Stokes had so imbibed the message of caution that he finished on 2 not out from 50 deliveries, packing up defensively like a bodyguard blocking a nightclub door.

After helping Root add 126 in a meticulous 319 balls yesterday, Joe Denly last night rated England’s chances “very highly”. He said: “There are not too many demons in the pitch — we are in a very good position. There is a lot of belief in that changing room and excitement going into tomorrow.”

They have left their run awfully late, however, from a first innings like England’s, there is seldom much to negotiate save the margin of defeat. History, rather than superstition, favours the visitors.

Omens for the next Test, which begins at Old Trafford on September 4: Steve Smith this morning had his first hit out in the nets since being subbed out of the Lord’s Test with concussion; James Anderson, who has been running laps each evening, bowled at close to full pace, after being invalided out of the Birmingham Test by a calf tear. We will learn today whether Smith and Anderson are to resume in an Ashes series live or decided.

Daniel Sankey 7pm: Ponting still favours Australia

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting still believes the tourists are warm favourites to win the Third Test at Headingley and retain the Ashes, despite England’s late fightback yesterday.

Speaking to cricket.com.au, Ponting said he believed Australia still had “plenty of runs”. England need 203 runs to win with seven wickets in hand, with Joe Root (75no) and Ben Stokes (2no) to resume at 8pm AEST.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting speaks with Australian coach Justin Langer at Headingley. Picture: Getty Images
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting speaks with Australian coach Justin Langer at Headingley. Picture: Getty Images

“The wicket looks like it’s flattened out considerably late this afternoon but there’s a new ball around the corner (due in eight overs),” Ponting said.

“It’s been a new-ball wicket all game. The other thing we’ve seen is in the game it has been a really hard wicket for anyone to come in and start on.

“But with not much in the track they’ve still got three outstanding seamers and the best spinner in the world, so they should be OK.”

Daniel Sankey 6.45pm: Day 4 pitch

Here’s your first look at the Day 4 pitch at Headingley … it’s still holding together really well and no visible cracks to speak of. The Aussies will be desperate to get their hands on the second new ball — it’s due in eight overs’ time.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2019-third-test-day-4-live-coverage-scores-from-headingley/news-story/140971ef990e7c8aae73c6252a5f617b