How Ironman Ben Conjured Lord's Classic

At one point of time in the second session, a visibly tired Ben Stokes wanted to keep going because his mind wanted him to.

- FIROZ MIRZA @London

So, he raised his right index finger to Jofra Archer. Archer was fresh but the England captain wanted one more over. But the urge to keep going and the mental capacity to put his already overworked, abused body on the line meant he came on for more over.

A few more effort balls into a lifeless, dead surface. 135kph plus delivery, delivery after delivery, completely ignoring the build-up of lactic acid in his legs. Think of a body part and Stokes probably has an MRI of it back home. He had to stop bowling. He had to manage his fitness. He had to say no to lucrative IPL contracts. Post surgery after a hamstring tear against New Zealand last year, he said no to alcohol.