Aussie boys of 81: It’s like Beefy’s come back to batter us again

“There is a huge pride in being captain of England and, when it’s going wrong, there is zero pleasure in it.

“I went through the whole range when I was skipper back in the 1980s – and in the bad times you really have to draw deep to remember that you are the

“He has to keep a level head again now for the next match at Old Trafford,” said BEN STOKES has beefed up England’s Ashes hopes – and brought back some painful memories for two Australian cricket stars of yesteryear.

Back in 1981 it was Sir Ian Botham who resurrected England’s Ashes, crushing the visiting Aussies, after the home side had fallen behind in the series and Beefy had been stripped of

“For 20 years, I have been very lucky to have the joy and privilege of working on TV commentary,” he explained.

“It’s a wonderful way to stay in the game when cricket is in your blood. It’s not just the commentators, but all the team who deliver cricket on television, the captaincy. Now it’s Stokes (left) who has completely turned round England’s fortunes, with his astonishing 135 not out at Leeds, and two members of the Aussie Test side from 38 years ago believe old wounds have been opened a generation on.

“What can you say about that Stokes innings?” asked Mike Whitney, who played in the final two Tests of the ‘81 series. “Are there parallels with

“It has been electric – the ebbs and flows, the duel between Jofra Archer and Steve Smith, and, of course, the incredible innings by Ben Stokes. We still fill grounds and have a great atmosphere.” Beefy? Of course there are. You can’t ignore them. Beefy was so powerful when he batted and always had massive self-belief when he bowled.

“Stokes seems exactly the same. He took three wickets to finish off the Aussie second innings too and not many people have talked about that.

“It was as if he had taken it on himself to save England’s Ashes. And that’s exactly what he has done. I was buzzing off the energy in the crowd at Leeds – and I was watching back home in Sydney!”

Trevor Chappell, who played in that famous Headingley Test of ’81 warned:“it’s up to Australia to try to forget that result now. But that can be easier said than done.

“The situation is very similar to the one back then. The next two matches will be a massive test for us.”