Steve Smith Praises Ben Stokes Heroic Innings
Legendary
Australian batsman Steve Smith praised Ben Stokes' impressive innings in the
third Ashes Test 2019 and revealed
what he loved most about the winning century. Australia was on the verge of
retaining the Ashes, despite the absence of its best batsman, Smith. England
collapsed at 286-9 on an exciting fourth day in Leeds.
However,
Stokes put England safe from trouble with one of the greatest try-times of all
time. His 135 on 219 balls included a 76-point stand with number 11 Jack Leach.
England ended up recording a remarkable win from a wicket against the
Australians and levelled the series at 1-1, with two games to play.
Smith
admitted he had trouble appreciating Stokes' poster, but praised the Heroic
efforts of the English general at Headingley.
"I'm
not a great observer of cricket, I've never really been, so I didn't really
appreciate it, but what an advertisement for the Cricket Test". " It
was a very nice round from Stokesy. He completely flipped the series. We had
the opportunity to conclude, but it was amazing".
"Even
when you come back two nights before that night, he had 14 quarrels in a row.
Someone said that, on average, he clocked the best time of the day out of 14
participants, which is a remarkable effort. "He's
a tough competitor, he wants to be in moments of pressure". "He
thrives under pressure, as we've seen the last couple of months, and he turned
the game to the end".
Smith
really admired Stokes' attitude. The left-hander refused to celebrate his ton
because his only goal was to make England triumph.
"I
think you could see the passion and the fight he showed. He never gave
up," added the Edgbaston centurion. "You look at him - and I really
admire him about him - when he scored the 100 that he didn't even celebrate, he
didn't care". "He had one thing in mind to get England over the line
and you really have to admire it".
"When
you're in those pressure moments, you have to be the first to deliver and do
what you can for your team". "I hope that some of our boys will be
able to learn from this and that, in similar situations, we must do everything
we can do everything in our power to overcome the obstacles," he
concluded.
