"Go, Go, Go": Ben Stokes Relives His Headingley Test Heroics

England were 1-0 down heading into the Headingley Test in 2019. The match was significant for England as they were still to get off the mark in the Ashes 2019 after a draw in the second Test at Lord’s. Ben Stokes was high on confidence and definitely the man, Australia were targeting.

Stokes was the player of the match at Lord’s. He scored an unbeaten 115 to give the hosts an edge over Australia in the second Test. Fortunately, for England, he could carry on the momentum to Headingley and clinched the match on his own.

Recap of the Headingley Test 2019

England invited Australia to bat. It turned out to be a low-scoring affair in the first innings. Australia were bundled out for 179 with only David Warner (61), Marnus Labuschange (74) and Tim Paine (11) managing to get into the double figures. England’s response was upsetting to say the least. The hosts were sent packing for palty 67 runs as Australia resumed their batting in the second innings.

Labuschange again fired all cylinders, and showed why he is one of the finest Test batsman, scoring a well-composed 80. He was only supported with some cameo knocks from his teammates as Australia were all-out for 246 runs in their second essay.

In the chase, England were two down inside the seventh over for 15 runs. But well composed 77-run knock from captain Joe Root and a vital half-century from Joe Denly helped the English stay alive in the competition. But following their dismissal with the scoreboard reading 159/4, the onus was on to Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, to help their side cross the line.

Bairstow could not score more than 36 runs as the entire match rested on Stokes. It was then display of pure grit, aggression and technique as Ben Stokes single-handedly helped England clinch a one-wicket victory. He was well supported by his bespectacled last man Jack Leach who remained unbeaten on 1 run as he forged 76-run stand for the last wicket.

‘Go, go, go’: Ben Stokes shouts as he relives the memory

Sky TV via a videolink allowed the viewers watch Ben Stokes relive his heroics. Here is how he reacted. “It’s the first time I’ve watched it ball by ball. It’s always going to be great memories, isn’t it? One of the great days,” he said.

“Not just on the field, but the memories we’ll always have together as a group. The changing room is sacred as a cricketer and that evening, after this day’s play, was just sensational. “We’ll always be able to look back on what happened that day and the memories we created.”

Stokes shouted “go, go, go” as his final six of the innings sailed over the head of Josh Hazlewood, according to a report in AFP.