Ashes 2019 | We have forgotten about Headingley, says Ben Stokes
Ahead of the second Test at Old Trafford, Ben Stokes has stated that the English team have totally forgotten about their Leeds heroics and are solely focused on the fourth Test at Old Trafford now. He has also added that the win would count for nothing if the team fails to win the Ashes eventually.
Ben Stokes played one innings of a lifetime to snatch the game from Australia at Headingley and that knock was responsible for many to wake up from their dead slumber. Ashes gained new fans and sent the excitement for the fourth Test to a fever pitch. However, Stokes doesn't have any interest to buy to that as his focus has clearly shifted to Old Trafford, which could help them take a step forward to regain the Ashes.
"We have to get the point across that we have forgotten about Headingley. That is a message we have been drilling into everyone in the squad. People will talk about it and it will come up in interviews, but it will count for nothing if we don't win these Ashes," Stokes told BBC's Test Match Special.
While Australia only need to draw the series in order to take the urn, England cannot afford to be beaten in either of the final two Tests in Manchester and at The Oval next week. In a do-or-die situation, the team brought Craig Overton to the squad to replace Chris Woakes while Joe Denly has swapped his place with Jason Roy, who is set to bat in the middle order for the first time in Test cricket.