Stokes Draws On 'dark Places' In Lord's Heroics

Captain Ben Stokes says his bowling capacity successful England's final-day triumph complete India's astatine Lord's was nan toughest of nan "dark places" he has been to during a Test.

Stokes, 34, was named subordinate of nan lucifer for his all-round capacity successful a melodramatic 22-run victory, including 2 wickets connected nan last time arsenic nan visitors were bowled retired for 170.

Having taken nan wicket of Akash Deep pinch nan past shot of nan time connected nan penultimate evening, Stokes bowled a 9.2-over spell to kickstart nan greeting and pinned nan in-form KL Rahul lbw for 39.

Another 10-over burst successful nan afternoon, arsenic India dug in, saw him toil relentlessly pinch an old, soft shot and he was rewarded pinch nan wicket of Jasprit Bumrah.

"The Test lucifer is connected nan line, it is different," Stokes told BBC Test Match Special, erstwhile asked if he had immoderate worries astir his workload during those spells.

"There are moments wherever I wouldn't moreover deliberation astir stopping."

Stokes has only conscionable just returned from hamstring room and came done an wounded scare successful this Test erstwhile he appeared to suffer a correct groin problem while batting connected time one.

He added he had "history of turning up successful moments for illustration that" pinch nan shot and was "pretty pumped" throughout.

"I thought I'd taken myself to immoderate beautiful acheronian places before, but bowling to triumph a Test for your state - if that doesn't get you excited, I don't cognize what does," said Stokes.

He added he felt a "whole caller level of tiredness" aft helping England spell 2-1 up successful nan series, but confirmed he would beryllium fresh for nan 4th Test astatine Old Trafford, which starts connected 23 July.

England's magnificent triumph came six years to nan time since Eoin Morgan's white-ball broadside memorably lifted nan World Cup astatine nan aforesaid venue, pinch Jofra Archer bowling nan hosts to triumph against New Zealand successful nan ace over.

Stokes said he felt Archer - successful his first Test lucifer since 2021 - would nutrient different typical capacity connected time 5 against India.

"He cracked nan crippled unfastened pinch those 2 wickets," said Stokes of Archer's dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar successful nan greeting session.

"I conscionable had this gut emotion thing was going to happen, pinch it being Jofra's first clip back.

"It's been awesome to person him backmost retired there, each clip he gets announced you perceive nan full crushed erupt. When he turns it on, nan speeds travel up connected nan screen, and nan emotion successful nan crippled conscionable changes."

With 2 Tests remaining, nan on-field tensions during nan Lord's brushwood person added a small other power to nan series, which will motivate some sets of players.

India seamer Mohammed Siraj was fined 15% of his lucifer fee and fixed 1 demerit constituent by nan lucifer referee for his ceremony aft dismissing Ben Duckett connected time four, which followed an altercation betwixt Zak Crawley and Shubman Gill nan preceding evening.

On nan last day, location was a collision betwixt Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse successful nan mediate of nan transportation arsenic nan batter group disconnected for a run, pinch Stokes yet separating nan pair.

"It's a monolithic series, emotions are going," added Stokes. "All 22 players are playing for their state and I don't deliberation anyone successful nan either dressing room is going to beryllium complaining astir what was said.

"A spot of niggle retired successful nan mediate gets over-egged from group watching.

"I'm each for it. I don't deliberation it went complete nan statement whatsoever. It adds to nan theatre."