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By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Ben Stokes says if England do not win back the Ashes from Australia, his innings at Headingley will count for nothing.
Stokes’ levelled the series and 135 out not led England into an extraordinary one-wicket victory.
If they win the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins on 21,, however, Australia will retain the urn.
“We’ve got to get the point across that we’ve forgotten around Headingley,” said Stokes.
In an interview to be broadcast on the BBC’s Test Match Special during lunch on day one of those fourth Test, the all-rounder included:”That is a message we’ve been drilling to everyone in the group.
“People will talk about it and it’ll come up in interviews, but it is going to count for nothing if we don’t win those Ashes.”
As holders, Australia have to draw the string to be able to shoot the Ashes down below.
That means England cannot afford to be beaten from Manchester in either of the final two Tests and at The Oval next week.
Stokes’ extraordinary innings kept the series alive when it looked like England were beaten in Leeds.
When person Jack Leach joined him the hosts still needed 73 however, to their goal of 358, the pair took England between them – the score they have successfully chased to win a Test.
Australia captain Tim Paine admits he has”lost a bit of sleep” pondering what to do concerning Stokes.
“I haven’t lost a hell of a lot of sleep thinking about my captaincy but I have dropped a little bit of sleep thinking how we are going to get him out, that is for sure,” he said.
Stokes’ brilliance came after he had been named man of the match in the World Cup final, when England raised the prize .
He said he does not feel some pressure to continue to replicate performances.
“I only go out there and try to do what I am paid to do, which is score runs and take wickets,” said the England vice-captain.
“I clearly understand and appreciate what Headingley was, how special that game was, but I look at it just like I was moving out there to do my job”
Stokes did pretend that interest in the match – the finish into the Headingley Test was among the most striking of all-time and the World Cup was obtained following a super over – has noticeably heightened.
“This summer has made cricket bigger than I ever remember it to be and the Headingley Test was made cricket go even higher than it was following the World Cup,” he explained.
“You see even tiny little matters, like the amount of individuals who wait in the hotel for autographs has gone through the roof.
“That’s something to do with that which we have managed to achieve this summer so far.”
You can hear the Complete interview with Ben Stokes on Test Match Special through the lunch interval on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test.
Why was Ben Stokes’ Test at Headingley the England triumph of all time?
Analysis and comment from the cricket correspondent of the BBC.
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