From where we were earlier in the day, that was a fantastic effort by both Ben Stokes and Jack Leach. Mostly Ben Stokes.
Considering the Ashes is probably seen as the premier competition in test cricket, and how crucial winning this match was, that was possibly the best innings ever seen in a test match. Simply brilliant.
Totally beyond belief. Watched the last hour in the Lion. Ran around the pool table giving it large (twice) at the end. I can't honestly remember a better end to a sporting fixture than that. Including the World Cup, which I thought was a contrived finish with NZ having any number of reasons to have been seen to have won it in 90 mins without the need for extra time. This was very different. One and a half men v the World with simple rules. Loved it, just loved it.
But it will be largely irrelevant if the Aussies go on to win the Ashes. Still Botham ‘81 for me until we know how the next two games pan out.
No, not really, I'm basing it on what Stokes was facing on the day. That isn't going to change, whatever happens over the next few weeks. But I actually think it is a very significant innings in the bigger picture. For years I've been wondering why chasing a last innings score of over 300 has been so "out of range". I think Stokes has shown the way, and we will see more similar run chases succeeding in the future.
I think we are going to have to agree to differ, at least for the time being. Wouldn’t be the first time, ZZ.
Yes, but tactical use of reviews is part of the game these days and the Aussies had used up theirs. Umpiring generally not that great, though. Meanwhile, it’s absolutely insane that England could win that after being bowled out for 67.
Agree about the poor use of the review. Still a lousy decision though. Of course, umpires always favour the bigger teams.
Isn’t that just a combination of factors though? England starting the chase so early in the game, with favourable weather conditions on a pitch less worn than it would normally be when a 4th innings chase starts, had a big impact I think. Most such chases start midway through Day 4.
Hmm. I guess the irrelevancy of it would be subjective. Sometimes in sport, single moments transcend the final result. I still remember the efforts of the Aussies in 2005 when they chased scores, even though they lost the series. Irrelevant moments in relation to the result of course - but still memorable. Stokes innings today will be spoken about for a long long time. Regardless of who wins the series.
Alright, point taken. “Irrelevant” was too strong a word. But I would still find it difficult to label it “the best innings ever seen in a Test match” if we don’t win the series. Besides, that is a very, very high hurdle. I’m not even sure it is the best Test innings Stokes has played.
Amazingly, this was the first time England have won a test by a single wicket in nearly a hundred years.
We lost the Play-Off Final after that Deeney goal against Leicester. We still talk about it today (and show it before every home game), the follow-up result is hardly mentioned. I bought a week long Now TV subscription to watch the cricket. Before today I was wondering if I could get a refund, now I'm more likely to send them a tip! That was incredible, hopefully enough of the newbies to cricket after the World Cup will have stuck around for that. For me it beats the highs of 2005 (when I got into cricket), it was like that Panesar innings but with Stokes being Stokes in there.
Rubbish. It ended up counting enormously in the context of the series as a whole. As may Stokes' innings in due course (we hope).
We still talk about it, but the gloss was taken off by the ultimate outcome. I have rarely felt as deflated as after the match against Palace. Fingers crossed the Ashes doesn't end the same way.
Yes. Didn't you query me a couple of years ago when I said that Test cricket was the best sporting theatre there was?
Perhaps I should clarify here. It was a quite superb innings (especially in respect of the last wicket partnership) and an extraordinary comeback by the team as a whole. But "the best innings ever seen in Test cricket"? To my mind, that judgement needs to be reserved until we know the outcome of the series. Mark Butcher batted brilliantly at Headingley in 2001 but it meant little because the Aussies still stuffed us in the series. IMO context is important in making judgements of that type.
A 5 match series is war. Certainly, the Ashes. No sporting spectacle even thinks this way to my knowledge.
