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A lot has been happening in Cricket. But the limelight this week was stolen by Ben Stokes and England. Stokes pulled off an improbable rescue act, which people witness once in a lifetime. A special innings led to a special and historic win, reports Vijayhardik. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Run chases in cricket are a subject of fascination. The tension at the beginning of the chase can be cut with a knife. With cricketing fans being a superstitious lot, they have their own bizarre rituals during the match. They get involved at a level where the distinction between the live match and screens at home is transcended.
Frenzied fans electrify the atmosphere at the stadium. This adds an extra layer of pressure on the players. Apart from worrying about it, they must concentrate on the technical aspects of the game.
Frenzied fans electrify the atmosphere at the stadium. This adds an extra layer of pressure on the players. Apart from worrying about it, they must concentrate on the technical aspects of the game. Assessing the pitch condition, pacing the innings with respect to the target and the time left to chase down the score, taking weather conditions into account, respecting the opponent during tough spells and showcasing technique on display to handle the vagaries of the situation presented during the run chase.
These factors amplify the excitement around a chase. While the chases in the short formats seem more audacious, the run chase in a Test match is more breath taking. The fourth innings of the Test match is a tough proposition to negotiate. Hence, the runs chased down on crumbling pitches in the last innings are always a momentous event.
In a format where the team batting last has often lost matches or succeeded in saving them in a draw, a win becomes an event of note.
In a format where the team batting last has often lost matches or succeeded in saving them in a draw, a win becomes an event of note. While there have been higher scores made in the last innings, the highest successful run chase was by West Indies against Australia in 2002-03. They chased it down the target of 418 in 129 overs at St. Johns in Antigua.
One of the grounds renowned for famous chases in the history of Test cricket is Headingley. It has stood witness to some famous victories. The Ashes, 1948 saw Australia chase down a massive target of 404. A Bradman special in the fourth innings saw Australia complete the highest successful run chase of the time.
It wasn’t until the turn of the century that another target in excess of 300 was chased down at Headingley. It was another iconic Ashes series where England beat Australia
It wasn’t until the turn of the century that another target in excess of 300 was chased down at Headingley. It was another iconic Ashes series where England beat Australia when they were at their imperial best under Steve Waugh. England chased down 315 at Headingley to pull one back. In a much more recent instance West Indies competing with England in the Wisden Trophy in the year 2017 chased down 322 runs registering an emphatic win.
Prior to the 3rd Ashes Test, 2019 as a part of the World Test Championship a target in excess of 300 was chased down only thrice in 78 test matches played at the venue. Headingley once again on 25 August witnessed another historic run chase.
After hanging on to a draw in the second Test, Australia were keen on retaining the Ashes by making the score line of the series 2-0. A win would enable them to do so. With a lot at stake for both the teams and an overarching championship looming on the horizon, the match had a lot of significance attached to it.
England trying to open their account were in a tricky situation. So, after winning the toss, they sent in Australia to bat.
England trying to open their account were in a tricky situation. So, after winning the toss, they sent in Australia to bat. With the services of Steve Smith not being 
available for the match, there was an added pressure on the Australian batsmen. Following the pattern established in the series after a few early wickets, an act of resurrection was needed. David Warner and Marcus Labuschagne dealt with the situation in a deft manner. Scoring half a century a piece they were building a foundation for the innings.
Raising a 100-run partnership between them for the 3rd wicket, they had just undone the damage of the early wickets when tragedy struck. It was called Jofra Archer. A devastating spell of fast bowling changed the complexion of the innings. The slide began with the wicket of David Warner when he edged one to Bairstow behind the stumps after scoring 61. His dismissal provided the English with an opportunity. The seized it with both hands and ran through the middle order.
Labuschagne after an impressive knock in the second innings in the previous Test extended his purple patch. He contributed with a valiant 79 while he ran out of partners.
In the span of a few deliveries their innings derailed. Labuschagne after an impressive knock in the second innings in the previous Test extended his purple patch. He contributed with a valiant 79 while he ran out of partners. Australia ended up with 179 in the first innings vindicating England’s decision to bowl.
Then cricket showed why it is called a funny and an unpredictable. What unfolded next was a nightmare. England even in their wildest dreams would not have dream about it. A phase of terrible cricket was displayed by England. An hour ago, the jubilant English dressing room had frowns on their faces. They had succumbed to lowly total of 67.
In the history of Test cricket never had any team won a match after posting a total below the score of hundred. Cricket experts and cricket fans had written off England.
In the history of Test cricket never had any team won a match after posting a total below the score of hundred. Cricket experts and cricket fans had written off England. Predictions of an Australian victory were echoing the air. Be it the sound reverberating from the stands in the stadium or the news reports on television, England fans were expressing their dismay at abysmal performance put in by their team.
With a humongous lead, Australia effectively started with their score being 112 runs. The deficit between the first innings scores between the two teams. With Labuschagne taking over from Steve Smith, he anchored the Australian innings. It seemed like he was batting on another surface compared to his compatriots. He held the innings together with a mature 80 while the rest of the Australian managed to get starts but frittered them away.
Managing a total of 246 runs in their second stint, they set a target of 359 runs. To win the match England needed to pull off the second most successful run chase at Headingley.
Managing a total of 246 runs in their second stint, they set a target of 359 runs. To win the match England needed to pull off the second most successful run chase at Headingley. After an early wobble, the duo of Root and Denly stitched together a partnership that injected life into the match. A third wicket partnership of 126 left the match poised at an interesting precipice. At stumps, on the penultimate day England required 203 runs and Australia needed 7 wickets to win the match.
The notion of a Bradman special was the talk of the town before the day dawned. Continuing their run chase England began the day with wicket of Joe Root to the wily fox Nathan Lyon courtesy a great catch in the slips by Warner. The combination of Bairstow and Stokes who had built many match defining partnerships together joined hands in the middle. They were recreating the template the duo was known for.
Another defining partnership was brewing between the two. After losing Root, the duo carried England to lunch unscathed. The beginning of a new session saw a shift in fortunes.
Another defining partnership was brewing between the two. After losing Root, the duo carried England to lunch unscathed. The beginning of a new session saw a shift in fortunes. Another batting collapse lay in wait for England. The collapse brought them to the verge of defeat. At 286/9, 73 runs away from a victory and 1 wicket standing between them and defeat, a victory was an improbable outcome.
Ben Stokes, still defiant, decided to write his own script. In the company of number 11, Jack Leach he launched a blistering attack on the Australian bowling attack. He began with targeting Nathan Lyon. He hit him for two sixes down the ground before playing an outrageous reverse shot which sailed into the stands over point. He relentlessly kept up the attack on the hapless Australian bowlers.
A few fielding mishaps which let Stokes off the hook compounded by some poor tactics where Australia wasted a DRS review, kept taking the gaming away from them.
A few fielding mishaps which let Stokes off the hook compounded by some poor tactics where Australia wasted a DRS review, kept taking the gaming away from them. Barely concerned with it, Stokes unleashed his wide barrage of strokes sending the ball to different corners of the ground. In the final moments of the game, a LBW decision against Stokes was turned down. Replays showed conclusively that he was out. But without a review, they were deprived of a certain victory. Cashing in on it, he led England to an improbable 1 wicket victory, creating records on the way.
His performance has been widely acclaimed. Some cricket pundits term Stokes ’19 better than Botham’81 and Bradman’48 combined together. Others call it a riveting masterpiece that is exhibition of what makes Test cricket great. Claiming it would bring spectators flocking to the stadiums to watch the longer format. Call it whatever you may but Headingley has once again produced a famous and improbable run chase.
Photos sourced by the author from the Internet
