A Summer of English Cricket
T
wenty nighteen was England crickets’ summer to remember, with a first 50 over world cup title, and an Ashes draw. England’s world cup began well, with a win over South Africa in the opener, including Stokes’ superb one-handed catch. A few disappointing defeats saw England needing to beat India and New Zealand, back-to-back, in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. With thanks to Johnny Bairstow’s two hundreds, England qualified and were to face Australia at Edgbaston for the semi-final. An excellent new ball spell between Woakes and Archer saw Australia restricted to a low score which, with the help of an aggressive Jason Roy innings, was chased down with ease. On the 14th July 2019, England faced New Zealand at the home of cricket for a final which would see a new name engraved on the world cup trophy. New Zealand batted first and posted a modest 241 runs on a slow pitch. A crucial partnership between Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes got England close to New Zealand’s score, and a late flourish from Stokes, including a controversial deflection of his bat for 6 runs, meant that it would go to a super over. England batted first, and powerful ball striking from Buttler and Stokes once again, meant that New Zealand would need 16 runs from 6 balls to win the World Cup. Jofra Archer would bowl New Zealand’s super over in his first ever world cup. A victory was in doubt after Archer’s first ball was a wide, and Jimmy Neesham dispatched his third ball into the stands over mid-wicket. However, Archer’s calm attitude prevailed as New Zealand failed to get the two runs they needed off the last ball, and England were crowned world champions.
As if Ben Stokes had not done enough in the world cup, he scored two hundreds during the Ashes as well. Jofra Archer impressed too, taking two five-for’s (including one on debut) as well as bowling a brutal spell concussing Australia’s star batsman, Steve Smith. However, it was Stokes’ 135 during the 3rd ashes test match at Headingley that was many people’s cricketing highlight of the summer. After a hugely disappointing first innings total of 67, England would need a remarkable team performance to chase down the 358 set by the Aussies. When England lost 5 wickets for 31 runs and Jack Leach (number 11 batsman) strolled to the crease with England still needing 73 runs, England’s chances seemed bleak. Only Ben stokes could recover from this situation. When England needed only 2 runs, a dreadful missed runout opportunity by Nathan Lyon and a fortunate LBW decision showed how luck was definitely on England’s side. Stokes and Leach’s 76-run partnership was characterised by Stokes’ reverse sweep for six, Leach’s single to draw the game, and Leach’s thorough glasses cleaning as it capped off one of England’s best summers of all time. Max Hooper, L6th, Bd 15
