This day, that year: Ben Stokes stuns Australia with Headingley masterclass to keep Ashes 2019 alive

Exactly a year ago, Ben Stokes took the cricketing world by storm when he played one of the greatest Test knocks ever witnessed to lead England to a miraculous victory over Australia in the third match of the Ashes series at Headingley.

England’s remarkable summer started with some genius from Stokes, as he played a major hand in the Super-Over madness that saw England lift said World Cup 2019.

About half and a month after that ‘once in a lifetime’ performance, Stokes was again at the heart of a truly incredible win at Headingley, one to rival not only that late Lord’s drama in mid-July but anything in cricket that has come before.

The Headingley magic #OnThisDay last year, Ben Stokes’s 135* led England to a famous one-wicket #Ashes win over Australia.

He shared a crucial 76-run last-wicket stand with Jack Leach (1*). pic.twitter.com/GhEL55LXGt

— ICC (@ICC) August 25, 2020

Stokes’s unbelievable knock of 135 not out off 219 balls helped England chase down the mammoth target of 359, which was also their highest successful run chase in Test history.

England were bowled out for 67 in their first innings but bounced back really well thanks to Stokes’s all-round effort.

Stokes’s knock was laced with 11 boundaries and 8 towering sixes. It was his 8th Test hundred and third in The Ashes against Australia.

There were switch hits, reverse swats, scoops, slog sweeps, slashes, inside out lofts and merciless wafts. Never once did Stokes lose control. Never once did his grip get sweaty. Never once did his eyes waver. Never once was he out of balance.

Nathan Lyon missed an easy run-out chance to dismiss England number 10 batsman Leach and Stokes, who was dropped on 116 by Marcus Harris, survived loud lbw shouts, with Australia unable to review, before, fittingly, Stokes hit the winning boundary to spark euphoria at Headingley.

Stokes was part of a 76-run unbroken partnership for the final wicket with Jack Leach, who scored just 1 run from the 17 balls he faced in the match as England crossed the finish line in the second session on Day 4 to level the 5-match series 1-1 and keep their chances of reclaiming the Ashes alive.

Not just the United Kingdom, but cricket fans all over the world were in awe of what Stokes managed to pull off.