Ben Stokes’s heroics in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, where his last-wicket stand with number 11 batsman Jack Leach led to a dramatic one wicket win for England to remain in contention for the urn made England fast bowler Jofra Archer “grateful” to be on the winning side.
When Archer was dismissed in the run-chase, it left England eight wickets down with 73 runs still required, and the fast bowler admitted that in trying to make Ben Stokes’ task easier, he feared he might have put his team in a difficult position.
“I wanted to make it less hard work for Ben but I got out,” Archer told ESPNCricinfo. “I thought I had messed the series up, not just the game but the series, so I was actually very, very relieved that we are still alive and fighting.
“Your coach always tells you don’t leave it for anyone else. I tried to do as much of it as I could. We have all seen enough cricket to know, 80 to win with just one wicket left against the Australian bowling attack… We were very grateful to be on the winning side, that is all I can say.”
“Your coach always tells you don’t leave it for anyone else. I tried to do as much of it as I could. We have all seen enough cricket to know, 80 to win with just one wicket left against the Australian bowling attack… We were very grateful to be on the winning side, that is all I can say.”
“To be fair to them, 350 runs is a lot of runs. I think anyone else would have been in the same position. The crowd started getting on their backs as well, I think they panicked a bit. They thought they would have rolled us after getting a few quick early wickets but that was it. They did not go through us as they would have wanted and I’m glad we did show some resistance.
“The series is not over. The upcoming games they will think twice. I don’t think they will declare now. I don’t think they will be too attacking. If they get a draw they will still retain so let’s see how the next Test goes. The way they play might be a bit different.”
