As England stepped onto the field on Day 5 of the Lord’s Test, their scorecard read 114/4, and a glimmer of hope emerged. The reason behind this hope was the presence of the courageous Ben Stokes, who had previously achieved the unimaginable at Headingley in 2019 against the same opposition.
Alongside him stood Ben Duckett, as the duo resurrected England’s innings from a perilous 45/4, crafting a remarkable 132-run partnership to keep their slender chances alive.
Their spirited alliance eventually concluded in the 46th over, as Josh Hazlewood dismissed the well-set Duckett for 83. Seven overs later, Jonny Bairstow suffered a shocking dismissal when Alex Carey brilliantly ran him out, sparking a heated debate among supporters of the ‘spirit of cricket.’
From that point onwards, the carnage unleashed by Stokes began. His monumental knock of 155 runs off 214 deliveries, featuring an impressive display of nine sixes and an equal number of fours, forced Australia to constantly readjust their fielding tactics. Stuart Broad provided valuable support, assisting Stokes in guiding England past the 300-run mark after a slump to 193/6 following Bairstow’s departure.
Australia vs crowd – absolute scenes in Lord's. pic.twitter.com/TZ8JhIyrQp
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 2, 2023
When Bairstow departed, Stokes was on 62 runs off 126 balls. From there, he transformed into an unstoppable force, receiving thunderous applause for his every move at the crease. However, Josh Hazlewood eventually halted his sensational innings, leaving the majority of Lord’s spectators in awe. Shortly after, Ollie Robinson and Broad followed suit, causing England’s score to swiftly decline from 301/6 to 302/9 before eventually reaching a total of 327.
