Stokes was the Man of the Match in the World Cup 2019 final.
The day was finally here when England got to lift the 50-over World Cup trophy in more than four decades. The wait could have been stretched for four more years had English all-rounder Ben Stokes not put up a fighting show with the bat.
Chasing 242, England were struggling in the chase before Stokes and Jos Buttler get them back in the game with a solid partnership. Still, the job wasn't done for them. Buttler was dismissed and it was Stokes who had to fight in the death overs to keep the game in their reach. Eventually, he single-handedly fought for the win. Although, he ended up tieing the game.
Stokes scored 84* (98) and 8* (3) in the super over to play a big role in England men's maiden World Cup title. “I’ve woken up in better conditions, but it’s an incredible feeling,” Stokes, who was the man of the match, told AFP
“We would have been devastated if we hadn’t managed to lift that trophy but looking back over that game I think it will go down in the history books as the best ever, with all the drama of a World Cup final. It’s an amazing thing to be part of.”
The all-rounder is now gearing up for another big occasion, Ashes, which is scheduled to be played later this year. “We may be world champions but also want to be Ashes winners as well,” said the 28-year-old Stokes.
“Everyone here deserves to feel like a champion because we’ve just won it but when it comes to the Ashes it’s going to head on again because it has to be. Whether you’re winning or losing games, you’ve just got to wipe the slate clean.”
Stokes had a couple of incidents which was supposed to make a big impact in his cricket career. The all-rounder had conceded four sixes in the deciding over of T20 World Cup in 2016 and after that, there was an incident off the field which actually took his focus away from cricket.
But Ben showed courage and fought back. Now he is the hero for England. Stokes said Monday: “That’s all gone and forgotten. It’s about now and what goes on in the future. I’m just going to enjoy this moment.
“In sport, and cricket, in particular, you ebb and flow with your emotions, but we’re going to enjoy the next two days because we deserve it. I’ve got this medal around my neck so it’s all good.”
Stokes explained what was going inside his head before the super over when they needed 2 runs off the last ball.
“Needing two runs off one ball, all I was thinking was ‘just don’t hit it in the air and get caught’. It was just ‘don’t try to be a hero and do it with a six’,” he explained.
“I wish it had gone for two because I wasn’t best pleased with myself walking off and back to the changing rooms for that 10-minute turnaround.
“I actually had to go and have five minutes to myself in the shower area of the changing room. I was pretty annoyed, angry. I had to get my head switched back on because I knew there was a job out there to do.
“I was full of adrenaline so I needed to make sure my head was in the right place.”
(With AFP inputs)