Long after the crowd had left, the Sydney Cricket Ground now deserted, Ben Stokes made his way through the outfield to join his England team-mates on the journey back to their hotel. He walked as if liberated, the pressure swept away. Stokes has struggled in this T20 World Cup – a tournament he has a rocky past with – and many have suggested he doesn’t deserve his place in the team. But when England needed it most, their man for the big occasion delivered once again, calmly guiding them to the semi-finals thanks to a nervy win over Sri Lanka. The game had all the hallmarks of one of those dark days in England. The bowlers got off to a poor start and were whipped into the stands. There was a meltdown, with blows pouring in when common sense seemed to suggest a more measured approach. And this on a ground, probably more than any other in the world, that has seen so many of England’s lowest moments. Ashes series have routinely come to a disastrous end here, while careers have ended in front of Sydney’s famous green-roofed stands. Few England greats – think Kevin Pietersen or even Bodyline mainstay Harold Larwood – have not survived Sydney Ashes defeats. For other, less established names – Scott Borthwick, Boyd Rankin or Mason Crane to name a few – the bruising losses were so bad that their fledgling Test careers washed up like a crisp packet floating in nearby Bondi Bay. Stokes, however, produced another of those moments he will be remembered for to ensure England leave Sydney defiant rather than defeated. This was not the thrilling Headingley six in 2019 – in fact, Stokes did not clear the rope in his 42 not out and hit only two fours. Nor were the impressive feats in the 50-over 50 World Cup final six weeks before the epic Ashes Test. Under the Sydney floodlights, Stokes held steady when others fell away, keeping a cool head when others lost theirs. T20 World Cup: England lose cheap vignettes against Sri Lanka When his batting partner Chris Woakes missed a pull with two runs needed from four balls, the pressure of the situation went up another notch. Stokes wandered over and encouraged Woakes – as he had done to Jofra Archer before he bowled the famous super over in that World Cup final. The all-rounder responded by cutting the ball cleanly to the boundary in front of the noisiest set of England fans. Coincidence? It can. Probably not. T20 World Cup: Woakes finds boundary to send England into semi-finals After the game, England’s players brushed off suggestions that they feel better – more confident and safer – with Stokes in their team. “We have faith in everyone” was the essence of what they said. But for fans it’s different. Because of what he has done in the past, England fans know that anything is possible with Stokes at the crease. Stokes has never mastered T20 cricket, despite appearing to be tailor-made for his powerful, striking talents. It is the format where stats dominate more than any other and Stokes – a match-winning average of 19.74 and a highest score of 47 not out in 41 internationals – is, at best, mediocre. His T20 World Cup experience includes missing the 2014 tournament after breaking his arm hitting a locker and being upset by Carlos Brathwaite in the 2016 final. However, with the bat, Stokes can be relied upon under pressure like no other available to England captain Josh Buttler. That’s why he was recalled after 568 days without a T20 international for this World Cup. It’s also why he never wavered from that decision, even when Stokes managed a double-figure score in six innings back in the team and often looked as if his touch had deserted him. A netting session in Melbourne where the stumps splashed several times was particularly nasty. “There was no question about him in the group,” Buttler said after Stokes led England to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka. He is a proper match winner and he showed it in a different way today.” Stokes’ knock lasted 36 balls – the most he has faced in a T20 for England. He had never spent more time in the crease than the 59 minutes he did in Sydney. The situation fell into his lap – a chase of 142 with little more than a run, a ball for a batsman who often takes time to build, rather than a quick finisher in the mold of teammate Liam Livingstone. It is said that Stokes could be better used in the front three, free to take advantage of the pitch’s limitations early on but also to accelerate with longer innings, and the injury to Dawid Malan, who has been unable to bat, has allowed him to just that for only the second time for England in six years. If Malan’s groin problem rules him out of Thursday’s semi-final in Adelaide – likely to be against India – the obvious solution would be for Stokes to remain there. It’s sure to be another great occasion – and we’ve all been reminded how much Stokes is loved. T20 World Cup: Alex Hales dismisses England with 47
