Australian head coach Justin Langer says that he still has nightmares about what Ben Stokes did at Headingley in the Ashes 2019.
Ben Stokes played one of the most unforgettable Test innings in the third Test of the Ashes 2019 in Headingley, Leeds. The premier English all-rounder played an unbeaten knock of 135 runs to take his side single-handedly home.
With 73 runs needed with only one wicket in hand, Stokes pulled off an incredible win for England and helped them to successfully chase their highest target in Tests.
Speaking ahead of the first Ashes 2021-22 Test, Australian head coach Justin Langer admitted that Ben Stokes’ heroics at Headingley in 2019 still gives him nightmares. He lauded premier English all-rounder as an unbelievable athlete and a great competitor.
"He's a great cricketer, no doubt about that. I still have nightmares about his innings in that third Test. I probably have more nightmares about his spell on day three of that game. He's an unbelievable athlete and a great competitor,” Justin Langer said.
Langer said that it is great for the game of cricket that Ben Stokes, who took an indefinite break from the game, is playing Ashes 2021-22. He admitted that the Australian summer wouldn’t have been the same without the best players playing.
"It's great for the game of cricket that Ben Stokes is playing Ashes cricket, and we all love it. It's an Australian summer and it probably wouldn't be the same without the best players playing. It's nice to see and hopefully his health is good. We welcome him here because he is one of the superstars of the game,” he said.
Ben Stokes scored 42 runs and retired himself out in England’s inter-squad match ahead of the Ashes 2021-22.
The five-Test series will begin from 8th December at the Gabba followed by the second Test match at Adelaide, Oval on 16th December. The third and fourth Test match will be played on 26th December and 5th January at MCG and SCG respectively. The fifth and final Test match of the Ashes will take place on 14th January at Perth Stadium.
(AFP inputs)
