The Stokes effect
Writing in the Guardian, Vic Marks looks back at Ben Stokes' match-winning performance at Lord's
ESPNcricinfo staff
26-May-2015
Writing in the Guardian, Vic Marks looks back at Ben Stokes' match-winning performance at Lord's and cautions against excessive expectations for a cricketer who is just beginning to mature.
On his return to international cricket there would be only 43 runs in 12 innings for England in various formats. His form was so dire that he could not be picked for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. And now this: a sublime display decorating a memorable Test victory. Stokes may mature. But it would be wrong to anticipate too much caginess from him as he gets older.
In the Daily Mail, Lawrence Booth discusses how the fun and laughter came back to English cricket - and it was a key to the victory, not just a by-product of it
Then came Lord's, and Mark Wood's imaginary horse, Joe Root's mock-salute, and Ben Stokes's bravado, going at the short ball - not ducking under it - because it was a chance to score six. Even Cook's nurdle to leg assumed reassuring proportions, the world back on its axis.