Srinagar, July 14: It has been year since on this day one of the Greatest Cricket World Cup final was played at Lords England.
It was the matcha that tested nerves of all, whether it was players, coaches, or fans. Everyone had to endure the drama that unfolded on that day with England emerging out as Champions beating New Zealand owing to superior boundary count after with match ending in a tie in both allotted overs and super over .
One man who was in middle taking all the pressure and lead his Country to win was England all-round Ben Stokes.
On the first anniversary of that historic triumph, excerpts from a book called ‘Morgan’s Men: The Inside Story of England’s Rise from Cricket World Cup Humiliation to Glory’ has revealed the pressure that Stokes felt on that day at Lord’s.
“Finding a quiet spot as the frenzy of the Super Over approached was hard in a ground packed out with 27,000 supporters and television cameras following the players from the middle, through the Long Room and up the stairs to the dressing room,” authors Nick Hoult and Steve James wrote and the excerpt has been published by stuff.co.nz.
“But Ben Stokes had played at Lord’s many times. He knows every nook and cranny. As Eoin Morgan tries to bring calm to the England dressing room and sort out their tactics, Stokes nips off for a moment of peace, ” Excerpts from the Book read.
“He is covered in dirt and sweat. He has batted for two hours and 27 minutes of unbelievable tension. What does Stokes do? He goes to the back of the England dressing room, past the attendant’s little office and into the showers. There he lights up a cigarette and has few minutes on his own.”
The 29-year-old Stokes was adjudged the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 84, plus eight runs in the Super Over, which helped England claim that momentous victory.