"It Was Worst Day..." - Justin Langer Recalls His Reaction To Ben Stokes' Headingley Knock In 2019
Published - 06 Jul 2023, 09:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM
Former Australian coach Justin Langer talked about his reaction after Ben Stokes played a blinder at Headingley in Leeds during the Ashes 2019. He said that he went to the English dressing room and put baggy green on him and carried him out of the changing room.
Four years back, at the very same venue, where the third Test of the Ashes 2023 is taking place currently, England all-rounder Ben Stokes played a miraculous knock and won his game from almost an impossible situation.
Dream11 Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips | Cricket Match Prediction Today | Cricket News | Cricket Live Score | Asia Cup 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | IND vs AFG 2023 | IND vs WI 2023
Ben Stokes denied Australia their first Test series win in England since 2001 with his stupendous knock. The all-rounder in Leeds scored 135 not out and won the game for his side with just one wicket left in camp. His knock is rated amongst the best Test knocks of all time.
Also Read: Ashes 2023: Tom Moody Blasts Headingley Crowd For Booing Steve Smith In His 100th Test
Justin Langer, who was the coach of Australia at that time, recalled how after that game he called his wife and explained to his wife about the worst day of his career by having a Scotch, which he doesn’t take. Speaking on the Legends of the Ashes podcast, he said:
IND vs AUS 2023 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs AFG 2023 | IND vs WI 2023 | Asia Cup 2023 | ICC World Cup 2023
“I remember that night when they won, we were sitting in my hotel room and I FaceTimed my wife Sue, she said: ‘What are you doing?'” Langer recalled. “I said: ‘What do you mean?
“She said: ‘What are you doing at the moment?’ I said: ‘I’m drinking Scotch.’ She says: ‘You don’t drink Scotch.’ I said: ‘I do tonight baby.’ It was the worst day of my cricket career.”
Ashes 2023: “I Put A Baggy Green Cap, Put Him Over My Shoulder And Carried Him Out Of The Changing Room,” Justin Langer Recalls His Reaction To Ben Stokes’ Headingley Knock In 2019
Justin Langer further went on to say that if he had an opportunity to have one player in the world no doubt it would’ve been Ben Stokes. He recalled how after that game he went to England’s dressing room and put a baggy green cap on Ben Stokes. He narrated:
“If I could have one player in the world, I would have Ben Stokes. And I remember it was a funny thing at the end of that series, we walked into the changing room and I said to Jos Buttler – because I played at Somerset – I said: ‘Jos, Ben Stokes, is he a good bloke?’ He goes: ‘JL you would love him. If you ever coach him, he’ll be your favourite player you’ve ever coached. Really mate, you’d love him.’
“Anyway, at the end of the night, I remember nicking one of the boys’ baggy green caps – we’d had a few beers by this stage – I put a baggy green cap, put him over my shoulder and carried him out of the changing room. I said: ‘Ben, you’re coming with me.’ And I just think like [Andrew] Flintoff, like [Kevin] Pietersen, he’s just a great player. I just love him. I used to watch him train, he was so fit, so strong.”
Ben Stokes notably, almost did another Headingley at the Lord’s in the second Test of the Ashes 2023. He played a blistering knock of 155 runs and almost won his side’s match from the jaws of defeat. But unfortunately, he got out and England suffered a 43-run loss.
Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah
Tagged:
Ashes 2023 Australia National Cricket Team Ben Stokes England National Cricket Team Justin LangerAbout the Author
Ankitjit is an author at Cricketaddictor. He has been working with the organization since April 2023... Read more
