On the ground where Botham rescued England 38

Those are the only two words needed to describe the craziest, most thrilling, most miraculous performance from an English cricketer in 142 years of Test combat.

England’s heroic all-rounder kept their Ashes hopes alive with the most outrageous innings of 135 not out to redefine what is possible in this, the greatest of games.

The moment he cut Pat Cummins through the covers for another boundary and held both arms aloft was the moment England chased down a record 359 to win at Headingley and Stokes took his legend into yet another realm.

How on earth could this man – who delivered the World Cup to the nation barely six weeks ago with the most dramatic of innings – outdo himself in such spectacular style? On the ground where Sir Ian Botham had produced the previous best in 1981, he could only watch on with pride as Stokes went one better to take England to a one-wicket win that levels the series and keeps this incredible, glorious summer alive for a few more weeks yet.

To say that England’s hopes were on life support when Stuart Broad was trapped lbw by the magnificent Josh Hazlewood with 73 more still needed would be the understatement of the year.

Stokes was on 61 and despite his 92 against Ireland, little was expected of Jack Leach.

And yet between the shots of adrenaline pumped into the stands by Stokes and the calm bedside manner of Leach who kept him company, England’s Ashes hopes were brought back to life in the most remarkable way. In their partnership of 76, Stokes struck 74 of them with four fours and seven sixes in an astonishing effort that he found hard to put into words.

“I don’t know how did it,” he said.

“I know we’ve won the game but I’m pretty tired to be honest. It was just a great day.

“It is never over till it is over and I only got nervy when it got down to the last 10. I had my pitching wedge at the perfect distance today.

“The pressure Jack is under there. Those will be the most crucial 15 balls he will ever face.

“He’s got serious b ****** s to stand up and do what he did.”

IFirst Stokes took down Nathan Lyon. Australia’s third-highest wicket- taker of all time, behind only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. A pair of straight sixes were followed up with a reverse slog sweep for six into the Western Terrace that sent an already frenzied crowd into raptures. They still believed.

He followed that up with an over of brazen big hitting against Hazlewood that he took for 19 and included two monster sixes.

This was Ashes cricket at its most exhilarating, compelling and thrilling.

The sort of cricket where 15 runs per over well

is