Ben Stokes on Ashes hero Jack Leach: He's got serious b*******

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Tom Dutton26 August 2019

Ben Stokes hailed batting partner Jack Leach after they put on a 10th-wicket partnership of 76 to seal the most unlikely Test victory and keep the Ashes series alive.

Still needing 203 runs for victory, Joe Root and Stokes returned to the crease on the morning of the fourth day with England already three wickets down.

Their hopes hung by the finest of threads and Root's dismissal within 30 minutes of the first session increased the scale of their task, still 199 behind but now the English tail was rolling into view on the horizon.

A notable contribution from Jonny Bairstow followed, while Jofra Archer, whose march to the crease united two World Cup heroes in the middle, saw the script written but added only 15 to the total before being caught in the deep going big once too many.

Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad had all fallen cheaply, though, before England's last hope Leach left the pavilion with the hosts still requiring 73 runs to square the series.

What followed was one of the most precious one not outs in the history of Test cricket.

Ben Stokes, who put on 74 of the 76 final-wicket stand, said after the match: “Jack has got some serious b*******.”

Leach batted beautifully, riding out Australia's blend of pace and spin to bat out the final ball(s) of each over and hand back the strike to Stokes.

England captain Root also paid tribute to Leach's performance, which amounted to far more than the single run he scored off 17 balls.

Heroic: Leach and Stoke steered England to victory
AFP/Getty Images

"The fact that he is so calm to be able to take off his glasses and clean them between balls, he's very much in the moment and he was a big part of that partnership," Root said.

"It takes two guys, regardless of how big a role you play, you've both got to be in it and he certainly did a fantastic job. I'm still trying to get my head around it. Amazing."

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