JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL
Ashes 2019: Ben Stokes is now a world box-office attraction, says Ian Botham
Ian Botham recalls his knock at Headingley in 1981 and praises Ben Stokes on his unbeaten 135 to keep the Ashes series alive
After playing an innings of his lifetime in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley, England's Ben Stokes has become the centre of attraction for the past few days. Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has said that his life will never be the same again. Stokes' unbeaten 135 helped the hosts chase down a mammoth 359 in the fourth innings of the Test. His knock helped England level the five-match series at 1-1.
Botham recalled his famous century on the same ground in 1981 that helped England win from an unlikely situation. He said, "It changed my life overnight. I think Ben's life will be the same. He will have no private life. He has to get used to that and so do the family. He is public property but it is a great place to be in for the long term. It will set him up for life. He will reap the rewards which he richly deserves and he is now a world box-office attraction."
"He will play all the T20 leagues but the refreshing thing about it all is he wants to play Test cricket and do well in it. That is the ultimate Test."
"Five -day games ebb and flow. We were bowled out for 67 and in any other format it'll be all over. Test cricket gives you room for something extraordinary to happen, and it happened. It might take 48 hours to sink in, and he'll think, I can do it, and I will do it again. He's got wood on Australia and I tell you, there's not better feeling as an England cricketer."
The fourth Test will begin at Old Trafford, Manchester on September 4th.
