AUS vs ENG: It Was A Really Bizarre Feeling - Ben Stokes On Manchester Test Getting Washed Out

England skipper Ben Stokes opened up about the result of the fourth Test of the Ashes 2023 at Old Trafford in Manchester. He said that it was a bizarre feeling for him with the way the game concluded due to the weather.

England after losing the first two games gave every possible effort to make a comeback in the series. They won the third Test in Headingley but couldn’t defeat the English weather which washed out the game and resulted in the game ending in a draw.

England gave it their everything in Manchester and for three days they were right on the top. But the last two days were ruled out of the rain. The Ben Stokes-led side have no chances of winning the series now as they can do is draw the series.

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It was an utter disappointment for England as a win in Manchester would’ve levelled the series and would’ve set the stage for the decider. They would now be hoping to at least draw the series and keep their record intact of not losing the series against Australia at home in 2001.

Ben Stokes said that it was a flat feeling both sides were emotionless after the game at the post-match handshakes.

“Leaving Manchester after the game was done, I’ve never left the field, never left a game emotionless. It was a really bizarre feeling the way the game petered out because of the weather. You sort of look back and wish maybe we either got beat or Australia managed to pull a draw off in that situation.

“Shaking hands with the umpires and the opposition at the end, you could see that from both sides, it was emotionless, Australia retaining the Ashes and us not being able to win it back. Two teams of professional athletes want to be out there playing against each other, doing what we do. It was a flat feeling,” speaking about the same ahead of the fifth Test match, he elaborated.

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AUS vs ENG: It’s pretty obvious what we need to go out and do – Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes further went on to say that his side knows what they need to do now and they would be looking to end the series on high.

“Putting the shirt on, walking out to represent my country, that’s all the emotion I need. Everyone’s very aligned in terms of what we want to do. And I’m not someone who speaks for the sake of speaking. If I feel I need to say something then I will but I don’t think I need to this week, it’s pretty obvious what we need to go out and do,” he explained.

The Ashes series currently stands at 2-1 with Australia in the lead. The last and final Test of Ashes 2023 will be played on 27th July at The Oval in London.

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