England’s Ben Stokes: To bowl like I did today was a monkey off my back

Ben Stokes spoke of his pride at recording his career-best figures with the ball after believing he had been letting the England team down this summer. But, given a wicket-laden first day during which West Indies hit back late on with four strikes themselves, the third Test remains in the balance.

By claiming six for 22 from 14.3 overs in a masterful exhibition of swing bowling either side of tea, Stokes helped Joe Root’s side to dismiss the tourists for 123 in the series decider and became only the sixth England cricketer to get his name on both honours boards at Lord’s.

The all-rounder, whose efforts left Jimmy Anderson on 499 Test wickets after claiming the first two breakthroughs, will resume with bat in hand on the second day, however. Both Stokes and Dawid Malan are unbeaten on 13, with England a less than convincing 46 for four after Kemar Roach and Jason Holder took out the top order.

“I felt I was letting the team down a little bit, so to bowl like I did today was a monkey off my back,” said Stokes, who had previously struggled for rhythm due to a knee injury sustained this summer and came into the series decider with 10 wickets at 44 apiece from his previous six Tests.

“This is a place where you’re proud if you get your name on the honours board. No one can take it away from you and I’ll always be able to say I’m on there through batting and bowling.”

On taking his fifth wicket Stokes gave a wave to the dressing-room balcony to thank England’s outgoing bowling coach, Ottis Gibson, for his efforts in getting him back to his best. “If it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure I’d have had a day like I did today,” he said. “I hope it’s a starting point and I can start producing some better performances with the ball.

“It was swinging when I got the ball in my hand – and when it does swing like that it’s a good opportunity just to run up and know it’s going to do something. It was a case of trying to get them on the front foot, driving and not getting too greedy by trying to send down magic balls.”

On the challenge ahead, given England remain 77 runs in arrears on a pitch offering plenty for the bowlers, he said: “We chatted at the end and said it was an amazing effort to bowl them out but it’s a wicket where you can lose wickets like we did.

“We will try and dig in but, when bad balls come, we need to put them away for runs. If they bowl good spells, it’s about having the mental strength to get through that.”

England reported a further concern with Stuart Broad slipping on the pavilion stairs at lunch and suffering pain in his Achilles when bowling after the interval. A scan showed no major damage.

(THE GUARDAIN)