A lighthearted moment unfolded between England cricketers Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, as Stokes recounted Archer’s amusing confusion about the date of their 2019 World Cup victory.
A Hilarious Mix-Up for Jofra Archer
England captain Ben Stokes recently shared a laugh-out-loud moment involving teammate Jofra Archer. The conversation happened just before the final day of their tense third Test against India at Lord’s, a match England ultimately won by 22 runs.
Stokes decided to quiz Archer about the significance of the date, July 14th. This was, after all, the exact day six years prior that England had clinched their first-ever Cricket World Cup title.
To Stokes’ amusement, Archer got the historic date mixed up. He thought Stokes was referring to India’s famous 2002 NatWest final win at Lord’s, where they chased down a mammoth 326 runs. “He thought that was a World Cup final,” Stokes chuckled to reporters. “Absolute beauty, that boy.”
The Day England Made History
July 14, 2019, truly etched itself into cricket history for England. That day saw England lift their maiden 50-over World Cup trophy after a nail-biting final against New Zealand.
The match itself was an unprecedented thriller. It ended in a tie after 50 overs, and then remarkably, even the Super Over couldn’t separate the two teams.
England was eventually crowned champions based on hitting a higher boundary count. This marked the first time a 50-over World Cup final had been decided in such a dramatic fashion.
Ben Stokes’ Heroic Performance
While the entire team contributed, Ben Stokes played an innings for the ages in that 2019 final. He had a quiet first innings, but when England faced a crisis in their chase, he stepped up.
The team was reeling at 86/4 in the 24th over, with their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread. Stokes, joined by Jos Buttler, forged a crucial 110-run partnership that brought England back into contention.
Despite visible signs of exhaustion, Stokes expertly guided England’s lower order. He ensured the match went to a Super Over by scoring a vital single off the very last ball of the regular innings. His heroic effort cemented his status as a national hero.
The Dramatic Super Over
The tension was palpable as the Super Over commenced. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler strode out to bat for England, managing to score 15 challenging runs off Trent Boult’s over.
Then, it was Jofra Archer’s turn to bowl for England. New Zealand sent out Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham to face the music. Neesham started strong, but a dramatic run-out on the final ball meant New Zealand fell just short.
England was then declared the winner, not by wickets or runs, but by their superior boundary count throughout the match. It was an unforgettable climax to a truly historic day.
- Jofra Archer confused England’s 2019 World Cup win with India’s 2002 NatWest final victory.
- England won their first-ever 50-over World Cup on July 14, 2019, after a tied match and Super Over.
- Ben Stokes’ heroic batting and Jofra Archer’s Super Over bowling were pivotal in England’s 2019 World Cup triumph.
This humorous anecdote serves as a reminder of the unforgettable day England lifted the World Cup trophy, a memory that remains etched in the minds of cricket fans worldwide, even if some details get a little mixed up!
