Ashes 2019: ‘Ben Stokes was out... it should not have counted’ – Australian media react to Headingley heroics

Stokes produced one of the great Test innings of 135 not out to get England home and level the series

Sections of Australia’s cricket media have reacted bitterly to England’s miraculous third Test win at Headingley.

Australia were on the brink of moving into an unassailable 2-0 series lead to retain the urn after reducing England to 286 for nine in pursuit of a record fourth-innings chase of 359.

Yet Ben Stokes produced one of the great Test innings of 135 not out to get England home, sharing a scarcely credible 76-run unbroken partnership with last man Jack Leach (one not out) in a breathtaking climax in front of a raucous crowd.

It could have all been very different had umpire Joel Wilson given Stokes out lbw in the penultimate over with The Australian particularly irked by the call.

“Ben Stokes was out, so 3rd Test heroics should not have counted,” the headline reads.

Fox Sports were equally upset with Wilson’s decision saying: “How the hell did that happen? Umpire howler robs fumbling Aussies as Stokes pulls off Ashes miracle”.

The Sydney Morning Herald struck a more positive note buoyant in defeat, however, suggesting: “Aussies are less flawed than stoked-up Poms despite England’s Headingley miracle”.

The defeat and the manner of it could prove a serious psychological blow which could have ramifications for the remainder of the series but Australia captain Tim Paine is confident his team will not dwell on what happened.

He said: “It was close, tight and the crowd was loud... that was as hard as it gets for a touring side. Sometimes people make mistakes and we made a couple. In the end it cost us a Test match, that and an unbelievable innings.

“We’ve got time now to make sure we stick together and bounce back. If we get caught up in the emotion of it all and get too down on things then the series can be taken away from you really quickly.

“The facts are that we’ve been in a position to win every Test match that we’ve played in so we’re doing something right, we’ve got to keep believing in that.

“If we can continue to execute on skill and not get caught up in the emotion, we think the next two Tests will be the same, we’ll be in a position to win them. We’re not going to be sulking about it for long.”

Nathan Lyon crumpled to the turf after Stokes confirmed England’s victory, the off-spinner having moments earlier fumbled with the ball as he missed the chance to run out Leach at the non-striker’s end with two still required.

Sections of the Australian press weren’t pleased with Joel Wilson’s decision (The Australian)

Lyon had started the day by moving up to third in Australia’s all-time leading Test wicket-takers’ list but ended it being helped to his feet by his skipper, who is convinced the 31-year-old will bounce back at Old Trafford.

Paine added: “He’s a really important player in our side and I said to him that if our players see him dealing with it really quickly and moving on then our younger players are going to do the same thing.

“We then turn up to Manchester or our next training session in a much better frame of mind rather than have guys sulking or whatever you want to call it. It hurts, deal with it, move on.”

Additional reporting by PA