DON’T LOSE YOUR FAITH IN US, URGES BOLD STOKES

SKIPPER’S RALLYING CRY AFTER LOSS IN ASHES EPIC

- Malik Ouzia Cricket Correspondent at Edgbaston

BEN STOKES last night told the English sporting public to strap in for four more Tests of thrills, after yesterday’s dramatic conclusion to an epic Ashes opener at Edgbaston.

As in 2019, England were beaten at their supposed stronghold, as Australia took a 1-0 series lead after chasing 281 for victory on the final evening.

However, the contrast from four years ago, when England were thrashed by 251 runs, could hardly have been more stark, Stokes’s side going toe-to-toe with the World Test champions before Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon’s 55-run partnership saw the tourists over the line with two wickets to spare.

The result means England will have to come from behind to regain the Urn, something neither side have managed to do since Michael Vaughan’s famous side of 2005, but Stokes urged fans to keep the faith.

“It’s very early to say the Ashes are slipping away after one game,” he said. “There are still four games left, so keep following us and we’ll keep trying to do what we do. I’ll still be encouraging the players to keep that smile on their face and enjoy every moment we have on that field in an England shirt. It doesn’t last forever, it goes by quickly. Keep following us, because we’ll be trying to do the same thing over and over again.”