"Stokes and Headingley is beyond just a love story" - Fans hail Ben Stokes after he rescued England from a collapse in 3rd Ashes Test at Headingley

England captain Ben Stokes received applause from all corners of Twitter from cricket fans after his magnificent knock against Australia on Friday, July 7.

After his valiant 155 in a losing effort earlier this week at the Lord's, he continued in the same vein of form and played another rescue act for his side after other batters failed.

The hosts commenced day 2 of the third Ashes 2023 Test with an overnight score of 68/3. Australian pacer Pat Cummins dismissed Joe Root on the second delivery of the day to give a bumper start for the visitors. Things went downhill for the English side as they collapsed to 142/7 before the lunch break.

Mark Wood (24 in 8 balls) played a blazing cameo after the break to inject some momentum into the innings. Ben Stokes, who played watchfully till then, switched gears and unleashed his fierce avatar in the company of tailenders.

His onslaught helped England get near Australia's first-innings total. Stokes perished in the 53rd over while trying to hit a six. He was the last man to get out as England reached 237, giving Australia a slender lead of 26 runs.

Cricket fans were impressed with Ben Stokes' penchant for performing well in crunch situations as he played yet another excellent knock on Friday with his team in a dire situation. Fans shared their reactions to his inning through the Twitter platform.

Here are some of the best reactions:

Ashwin 🇮🇳

@ashwinravi99

Stokes and Headingley is beyond just a love story #Ashes2023

1315

108

Stokes and Headingley is beyond just a love story👏👏 #Ashes2023

Will Macpherson

@willis_macp

There won't be many more like Ben Stokes

236

28

There won't be many more like Ben Stokes

CricBlog ✍

@cric_blog

Had England's tail played with a little more calmness, they could have easily taken a lead. Another brilliant innings by Ben Stokes. What a player.

#Ashes

13

1

Had England's tail played with a little more calmness, they could have easily taken a lead. Another brilliant innings by Ben Stokes. What a player.

#Ashes

Spencer Morgan

@spencermorgan93

Ben Stokes whenever all hope seems lost

97

8

Ben Stokes whenever all hope seems lost https://t.co/nuDZEGIQoK

Ashley Parker

@Ashleypp1986

Ben Stokes is a warrior. England to reliant on him and the bowlers and it will take its toll in the end! #Ashes2023

1

Ben Stokes is a warrior. England to reliant on him and the bowlers and it will take its toll in the end! #Ashes2023

Priyanka

@Lostgirlprii

Ben Stokes

4

Ben Stokes https://t.co/qRJvxbX3d7

Vikrant Gupta

@vikrantgupta73

Ben Stokes has some charisma - and I think this kind of situation, batting with tailenders, actually suits him @benstokes38 #Ashes2023 #EngvAus twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

95

5

Ben Stokes has some charisma - and I think this kind of situation, batting with tailenders, actually suits him @benstokes38 #Ashes2023 #EngvAus twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Reev

@TheReevHD

This England performance is so sloppy that Ben Stokes has literally broken his back trying to carry this

46

2

This England performance is so sloppy that Ben Stokes has literally broken his back trying to carry this 😭

Prashant

@Prashtk31

Well Played sir ben stokes.... ghosts are alive of headingly in my heart...

1

1

Well Played sir ben stokes.... ghosts are alive of headingly in my heart...

Paul E2 Spurs 🟡🟣

@PaulE2Spurs

Stokes needs some help from the other batsmen. It basically Ben Stokes V Australia.

3

1

Stokes needs some help from the other batsmen. It basically Ben Stokes V Australia.

Nikhil 🏏

@CricCrazyNIKS

Had to keep swinging Stokes but his 80 has ensured Australia only have a slender lead of 26 runs. Makes this game move a lot more quicker. Should be a fascinating match.

For now, well played, Ben Stokes. Incredible to be able to switch gears so well. Well done.

#Ashes

25

2

Had to keep swinging Stokes but his 80 has ensured Australia only have a slender lead of 26 runs. Makes this game move a lot more quicker. Should be a fascinating match.

For now, well played, Ben Stokes. Incredible to be able to switch gears so well. Well done.

#Ashes

James Morgan

@thefulltoss

Well, Ben Stokes has just single-handedly brought England back into this game and kept the Ashes alive. I simply don’t have the superlatives in my vocabulary to describe what a special cricketer he is. Absolutely insane effort. #ashes

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Well, Ben Stokes has just single-handedly brought England back into this game and kept the Ashes alive. I simply don’t have the superlatives in my vocabulary to describe what a special cricketer he is. Absolutely insane effort. #ashes

CricketMAN2

@ImTanujSingh

Ben Stokes last 2 Test innings at Headingley in Ashes:

•135*(219) - 4th innings run chase.
80(108) - When England 68/4.

Ben Stokes loves Headingley - WHAT A PLAYER, ABSOLUTE SUPERSTAR.

19

1

Ben Stokes last 2 Test innings at Headingley in Ashes:

•135*(219) - 4th innings run chase.
80(108) - When England 68/4.

Ben Stokes loves Headingley - WHAT A PLAYER, ABSOLUTE SUPERSTAR. https://t.co/lzAaFG2nJs

Dennis🕸

@DenissForReal

Ben Stokes what a player 🏼

4

3

Ben Stokes what a player 👏🏼 https://t.co/iiKBgkJomy

Hrishikesh Damodar

@HrishiDamodar

#BenStokes has completed 6000 Test runs. With this, he has become the first English player & third overall after Sir Gary Sobers and Jacques Kallis to score 6000 runs and take 150+ wickets in Test Cricket history. Stokes is one of the greatest Test all-rounders.

#BenStokes has completed 6000 Test runs. With this, he has become the first English player & third overall after Sir Gary Sobers and Jacques Kallis to score 6000 runs and take 150+ wickets in Test Cricket history. Stokes is one of the greatest Test all-rounders. https://t.co/LvgWfOFoRO

Oliver

@nufcollie97

Ben Stokes man.

Seems to get better when everyone else is playing shit.

Alien.

#Ashes2023

2

Ben Stokes man.

Seems to get better when everyone else is playing shit.

Alien.

#Ashes2023

Trevor Lloyd

@Trevorlloyd92

Ben Stokes has once again, given England a chance to win. What a guy. What a player.

8

1

Ben Stokes has once again, given England a chance to win. What a guy. What a player.

Chennai Super Kings

@ChennaiIPL

Ben Stokes at Headingley!



#Ashes #WhistlePodu 🦁

355

42

Ben Stokes at Headingley!

💪💥

#Ashes #WhistlePodu 🦁

Goli

@PitchingOutside

Ben Stokes single handedly carrying England:

#Ashes2023 #BenStokes

4

Ben Stokes single handedly carrying England:

#Ashes2023 #BenStokes https://t.co/Huy7DaUVlP

Lee Clarke

@Clarkey_No1

Ben Stokes is superhuman. Half a sniff thanks to him. Will be hard being two bowlers down mind.

3

Ben Stokes is superhuman. Half a sniff thanks to him. Will be hard being two bowlers down mind.

Shrutika Gaekwad

@Shrustappen33

Ben Stokes! Another show of his brilliance. One man army against Aussies!

Gone for 80 and England bowled out.

11

Ben Stokes! Another show of his brilliance. One man army against Aussies!

Gone for 80 and England bowled out.

retired ICT fan

@anubhav__tweets

Ben Stokes is COURAGE in big bold letters

42

1

Ben Stokes is COURAGE in big bold letters

Vishal.

@SPORTYVISHAL

Remeber the name Ben Stokes !

This man is carrying the batting of his team on his shoulders alone and a absolutely six hitting machine.

22

3

Remeber the name Ben Stokes !

This man is carrying the batting of his team on his shoulders alone and a absolutely six hitting machine. https://t.co/gu0iEafVSY

Archith

@UtdArc

People should stop doubting Ben Stokes. He is just an insane cricketer who just has the ability to flip the switch when everything is downhill.

An asset to any side he is in.

20

1

People should stop doubting Ben Stokes. He is just an insane cricketer who just has the ability to flip the switch when everything is downhill.

An asset to any side he is in.

Reuben

@ReubenOwen_

The word generational gets chucked about in sport very often.

But it’s the correct word for Ben Stokes.

3

The word generational gets chucked about in sport very often.

But it’s the correct word for Ben Stokes.

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"It's cost England" - Michael Vaughan feels Jonny Bairstow's poor wicket-keeping has cost Ben Stokes' side heavily so far in the Ashes 2023

Former England captain Michael Vaughan recently criticized Jonny Bairstow's poor wicket-keeping in the three Ashes Tests so far.

The Yorkshire keeper has put down multiple catches since the beginning of the series at Edgbaston and continued his shoddy work at Headingley by dropping a couple of catches on day 1 of the 3rd Test.

Speaking to Cricbuzz at the close of play on Day 1, Vaughan analyzed this as one of the reasons for England's current state in the series, saying:

"It's cost England. I was absolutely behind his wicketkeeping before this series but sometimes you have to accept that there's maybe a better option out there. I don't think they'll tinker, they'll continue with Jonny ( Bairstow)"

He added:

"The Aussies have had 3 chances and taken all. It's obvious for everyone to see the chances England have been missing have cost them hugely and probably down 0-2 because of that."

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