Cricket aces honoured by SJP ovation

ENGLAND cricket heroes Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Rory Burns and Jason Roy popped into the Newcastle United dressing room before Saturday’s game against Brighton.

The quartet were guests of honour at St James’ Park following a remarkable summer for English cricket, which included a World Cup win and a sensational match-winning century by Stokes at Headingley in the third Ashes test.

Stokes, Wood, Burns and Roy were all interviewed on the pitch pre-match and were also introduced to the players in the home dressing room before the 0-0 draw.

The guests were greeted by warm handshakes from the Newcastle players and staff as they made their way around the changing room and spent time chatting with Andy Carroll.

For Stokes, who ‘wondered if anyone was going to know who we are’ when the cricket stars were introduced to the crowd, it was a ‘special reaction.’

He said: “It is not often you are able to experience what the vibe or energy is like in a different changing room.

“Things like these we don’t take for granted. We know what a special opportunity it is to come to a ground like this as well.

“As Woody alluded to before, we are pretty grateful we managed to be here today.”

Stokes and Wood, of course, were representing the North East and Durham Cricket and were making the most of a rare weekend off following the end of the cricket season.

Ashington-born Wood is best friends with the son of Newcastle’s head of security Steve Story and was delighted to have the chance to come along following a stunning two months for English cricket.

He said: “I am a bit different to Ben in the fact I have been injured a little bit so I have missed a little bit of play, so I have been able to step back.

“To hear people say my name with the World Cup winner tag next to it makes me really proud.

“I was not quite sure of the impact we had. We are in our little bubble as a cricketing group and until you see people jumping in their living rooms and you see Trafalgar Square going wild, you don’t realise how much of an impact you have had on people.

“The amount of support we have had, especially from people back home when we have been away, has been phenomenal.”