Celebrations: England secured an incredible 74-run win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi
(Picture: Getty Images)Ben Stokes has hailed his team-mates and in particular fast bowler Ollie Robinson after a historic victory over Pakistan that he considers to be one of his finest achievements in an England shirt.
Going into the final session of the first Test on Monday, Pakistan required just 86 runs to win with five wickets in hand and two set batters at the crease, before England turned the game on its head with a double strike from Robinson, who took 4-50 in the second innings in a man-of-the-match performance.
Robinson, who less than a year ago had his fitness levels publicly questioned by then England bowling coach Jon Lewis, bowled 43 overs across the Test in a showing that Stokes believes was the Sussex quick’s best for his country.
“The great word you said there was ‘Ollie Robinson’s fitness in the past’,” said Stokes at the close of play. “He didn’t show any signs of slowing down on a hot, docile, draining day. He just kept running in and running in.
“Everything that has gone on in the past and that’s been said about him should be written off now. Because that performance this week is in my opinion his best bowling performance for England. Conditions were not in his favour and he still managed to bowl England to victory yet again.”
Stokes’ praise, however, was far from reserved exclusively for Robinson as he heralded the performances of each and every one of his team-mates who contributed to what was an incredibly unlikely victory.
Presented with a pitch as bland as one can imagine, a result was only possible due to England’s record-breaking first innings, where they scored over 650 at more than a run a ball and also an incredibly bold declaration where they set Pakistan 343 to win. It was a figure Pakistan had chased successfully just two Tests ago against Sri Lanka.
“What we set out to do from day one was to make Test cricket in general exciting when England are playing,” Stokes said. “And with the declaration we wanted to come into day five with both results possible, one of those results not being a draw.
“The individual takes away the individual side of sport,” he explained of the feeling within the dressing room. “And understands that the picture is bigger than themselves. And we have a whole squad that understands that and really buys into that.
“I think this is one of the best [wins of my career]. To be able to get a result on this type of wicket is just… mind-blowing. The effort everyone’s managed to put in this whole week. And I feel very honoured and in a privileged position to be able to lead these guys out on the field.”
Stokes namechecked all of Jack Leach, James Anderson and Joe Root for their contributions to the team ethos as well as the victory. In particular citing the emotion he himself felt at Anderson, 176 Tests into his career, ranking the victory as one of the best he has been involved in.
“Jimmy said to me there at the end of the match presentation that he was getting quite emotional about this win,” Stokes said. “The guy has played nearly 180 Test matches, has experienced everything, the highs and lows of Test cricket. To hear him say that about this particular Test match, I think that really makes you realise how special an achievement this week has been, wearing this England shirt.
“One thing we’re trying to do is whatever situation we find ourselves at, out in the field especially, is to just enjoy it. A few times I said ‘just enjoy the flatness, enjoy the challenge of trying to create something out of nowhere’.
“People want to watch that as Test cricket and that’s what we are trying to do as a team - to make Test cricket as exciting as the short formats.
“Today was absolutely perfect in terms of that. Day five today was just a rollercoaster. We managed to take the last wicket with eight minutes left, something like that? Who doesn’t want to watch a Test match going into day five and being played like that?”
