England captain Ben Stokes expressed immense satisfaction following his team’s hard-fought Boxing Day Test win against Australia at the MCG, a victory that ends a 15-year barren run for England in Australia. He described the feeling as “pretty special” after they successfully chased down a difficult target in the fourth innings.
Stokes candidly admitted to the intense pressure during the match’s climax. “10 runs has never felt so far away, when I got out,” he confessed, highlighting his eagerness to avoid the agony of watching from the sidelines. This win is particularly meaningful for Stokes, having experienced tough tours in the past. The unified celebration, with the entire squad coming together to witness the final runs, underscored the deep significance of this long-awaited success. “It’s an awesome feeling. Been on a couple of tours before where it has not gone too well, so to end up on the right side of the result after a long period of time is a pretty special feeling,” he remarked.
On the challenging pitch, England committed to a bold, proactive chase strategy. Stokes explained, “There was only one way of going about, chasing that, that tally down which was to, to go out there and, and try and put the pressure on from ball one.” He specifically praised the crucial 51-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, identifying it as a “huge reason” for their eventual triumph. The skipper emphasized the importance of their effective running between the wickets, converting singles and twos into valuable progress towards the target.
England’s tactical acumen was evident when Brydon Carse was moved up to number three, a strategic move to combat the tricky conditions with the new ball. Stokes felt this allowed for greater flexibility, even if Carse’s contribution was brief. He believed Carse’s intent helped pave the way for Jacob Bethell, who played a vital and composed innings under pressure. Stokes was highly impressed with Bethell’s fearless approach, particularly his aggressive shot over the covers shortly after tea.
“You have got to be brave and courageous in, in the way that you play the game, especially on a wicket like that,” Stokes stated, highlighting Bethell’s crucial innings. He added that such attacking intent can significantly influence a bowler’s mindset. This victory, representing a blend of experience and emerging talent, is a significant morale boost and a proud moment for the English cricket team after their landmark win at the MCG.