A relieved Ben Stokes has emphasised the importance of his side’s drought-breaking win in Australia this Boxing Day Test, which ends England’s grim 15 years without a red-ball victory down under.
The four-wicket win came in unconventional circumstances on a scrutinised MCG pitch, but Stokes’ side were able to prove themselves the better of the two sides to ensure they don’t leave the country for a fourth straight tour without an Ashes win.
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Speaking to journalists post-game, the 34-year-old noted the result meant “a hell of a lot” to all involved.
“It was tough, but I loved the way that we went about that,” Stokes said.
“It will mean a hell of a lot to everyone … I think we’ll all share that same sense of satisfaction of winning a game out here, and adding to it that it’s a Boxing Day Test match.
“We’re obviously very proud and buzzing that we’ve managed to get this.
“This win does mean a lot. I’ve been over here a few times and not managed to get a win … (but) we’re not going to let the feeling of this victory flow on further than it needs to.”
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Amid the carnage on day two, Stokes’ dressing room opted for a shock change in the batting order that saw Brydon Carse, who traditionally bats at No.9 or 10, skyrocket up to first drop.
While the move didn’t pay notable dividends in the runs column, the switch allowed young gun Jacob Bethell, who was listed to bat three, to come in with a little less shine on the new ball.
“The top order from both teams were struggling to find a way to consistently score runs or feel any fluency. So, we went with the idea of sending someone who’s got talent with the bat and a very good eye for hitting the ball (in),” Stokes explained.
“Even if he gets a quick 20 or 30, that’s massive in a very small run chase. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come off for us, but even the 15 to 20 minutes that he spent out there made it a little bit easier for ‘Beth’ (Jacob Bethell) to come in and build the innings that he did.”
The move came both directly and indirectly as a result of the pitch, which saw an eye-watering 20 wickets fall on the opening day before Australia were bowled out for a second time in as many days for just 132 in their second innings.
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“When you go out there and you face the conditions, you’ve got to crack on and deal with it. But being brutally honest, that’s not what you want,” Stokes said.
“Boxing Day Test match, you don’t want a game finishing in less than two days. (It’s) not ideal, but you can’t change it once you start the game; you’ve just got to play what’s in front of you. I’m pretty sure if that was somewhere else in the world…”
“Chasing down 170 on that wicket was never, ever going to be easy. So, when you put everything into consideration with the build-up to this Test match, the conditions that we were faced to chase 175 down… you could almost say that it felt like 340.”
The fifth and final Test of the series will begin on January 4 in Sydney at the SCG, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 10:30am local time.
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