England captain Ben Stokes revealed that bowler Jofra Archer thought that Sourav Ganguly’s iconic shirt-swinging on the Lord’s balcony was simply six years to the day of the ultimate day of the third Test towards India on Monday (July 14, 2025).
England defeated India by 22 runs in an in depth contest, due to a dream spell by the returning Archer, however the England skipper shared that the bowler received the dates confused forward of the day’s play.
Stokes tried to remind Archer that it was precisely six years in the past that England beat New Zealand within the nail-biting ODI World Cup last during which each gamers featured, however Archer thought he was referring to Ganguly’s celebration at the identical venue.
“I just said to him (Archer) this morning, ‘You know what today is?’ There was that highlight package from when India knocked off like 300 odd back in the day, when Ganguly (gestures the shirt waving)… he thought that was the World Cup final as well. He thought that was six years today. Genuine.
“I was like, no. That World Cup that we won. He was, ‘Oh, that one.’ Absolute beauty, that boy.”
Ben Stokes of England congratulates Jofra Archer of England at the top of the match throughout day 5 of the third take a look at match between England and India at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 14, 2025, in London, England
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Getty Images
Ganguly had taken off his shirt to have fun India’s win within the high-voltage NatWest Trophy last in 2002, and it stays one of essentially the most dramatic moments in worldwide cricket to this date.
Stokes-Archer connection
Stokes was very aware of England’s World Cup win in 2019 on this present day.
“We knew that turning up this morning was genuinely the reason why we went with me and Jof (Archer). It felt right in my tummy that Jof was gonna do something this morning to break the game open.
“Gut really feel would not all the time work, however these two wickets he received this morning clearly swung the sport massively in our favour.”
The England captain has supported the rather injury-prone Archer wholeheartedly and they also share a special bond. It was evident on the field in the morning session.
“So he wished me to return to mid-on and (Brydon) Carsey to go to leg slip so he may discuss to me. But I did not belief Carsey at leg slip, to be sincere,” said Stokes.
Man of the match for Stokes
Stokes got the player of the match award for leading from the front. Fresh off an injury comeback, Stokes completed spells of 9.2 overs and 10 overs in his bid to maintain pressure on India.
Despite his workload within the sport, Stokes stated he could be fantastic for the fourth Test starting in Manchester on July 23.
“I’ll be completely sound for Manchester. It’s an enormous break. Obviously, I used to be fairly drained after Headingley. But, yeah, after we walked off the sector there, type of an entire new degree of tiredness hit.
“And it’s obviously different when you’re … I’ve been in games like that before, not as a captain, where I’ve been given the ball to run in and try to bowl the team to victory.
“But then now, including on the choice making round bowling modifications, subject placings, how I really feel we’re gonna get this win. Obviously, there is a bodily factor of bowling within the fourth innings, however then it should not be underestimated how the emotional and psychological tiredness does additionally get you as effectively,” he said.
On heated exchanges
Stokes was expectedly asked about the heated exchanges and sledging by players of both teams throughout the game, but he did not read too much into it.
Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley alternate heated phrases at the top of the third day throughout the third Test match
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AP
“I think in a big series like this there was always going to be a moment where the two teams were going to clash. I’m all for it as long as it does not cross the line,” he stated.
“If you think about it, it’s 22 people out there playing for their country. The highest honour you can have in our sport. So, you can understand that sometimes emotions and tensions can get quite high,” he added.
He additionally doesn’t anticipate gamers to be significantly affected by the on-field skirmishes.
“…I don’t think anyone in the Indian dressing room or anyone in the English dressing room is going to cry themselves to sleep over what was said or done out there. I don’t think it overstepped the line from the India team or from our team,” he stated.
“It wasn’t really boiling up… it just happened but it adds to the spectacle of England vs India doesn’t it?,” he stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
