STOKES ON FIRE All-rounder stuns India to win Test for England

BEN STOKES provided a fitting finale to a landmark Test to leave Joe Root beaming. The all-rounder stepped up to the plate in stunning fashion by grabbing three wickets as England nervously scraped home. Set against the backdrop of an appearance at Bristol Crown Court tomorrow to answer charges of affray, Stokes could have been forgiven for his mind wandering to off-field troubles.

But he was fully focused on the job in hand as he ensured India fell 31 runs short of their victory target as the 1,000th Test lived up to the hype.

It left Root smiling from ear to ear afterwards, puffing out his cheeks in joy – and paying tribute to his match-winner.

He said: “What a game. I’m still trying to soak it all in. It was a fabulous advert for Test cricket. Stokesy has got the knack – he wants to bowl in big moments of the game.

“It was a fabulous team performance. Whenever you are playing in close games you are desperate to be on the right side of it for so many reasons.

“One thing that stands out was the inner drive and belief. We have got a few things wrong in this match – but we have got a belief in one another.

“I’m really proud of the players.”

The match was beautifully poised and the Edgbaston crowd was in good voice from the first ball.

The equation was simple. England needed five wickets, India required 84 runs. And Root’s men got off to the best possible