How Ganguly's Shirt Swirl Inspired Archer's Match-Winning Show vs India

NDTV

7 days ago

Jofra Archer took inspiration from Sourav Ganguly's famous shirt swinging show at the 2002 Natwest Trophy final to produce a decisive spell for England on day five of the third Test against India on Monday, revealed skipper Ben Stokes. Archer removed the dangerous Rishabh Pant with a peach before taking a return catch to dismiss Washington Sundar as India went down by 22 runs despite trying their best to recover from those body blows. "I just said to him this morning, 'you know what today is, don't you?' "You know that highlight package of India knocking off 300-odd back in the day with Ganguly. He thought that was the World Cup final. He thought that was six years today," Stokes said after an energy sapping win.
Interestingly, England scripted a famous win at Lord's on the same day they had won the 2019 ODI World Cup final in rather controversial circumstances. However, when Stokes reminded Archer about that momentous day six years ago, Archer thought of the Ganguly moment that happened 17 years ago.
"I was like, no...that World Cup that we won? He was like, 'oh that one'. He's an absolute beauty, that boy. I just had the feeling today and that Rishabh Pant wicket was massive in a low run chase," said Stokes Stokes was very mindful of England's WC win in 2019 on this day.
"We knew that turning up this morning was genuinely the reason why we went with me and Jof (Archer). It felt right in my tummy that Jof was gonna do something this morning to break the game open.
"Gut feel doesn't always work but those two wickets he got this morning obviously swung the game massively in our favour." The England captain has supported Archer wholeheartedly and they also share a special bond. It was evident on the field in the morning session.
"So he wanted me to come to mid-on and (Brydon) Carsey to go to leg slip so he could talk to me. But I didn't trust Carsey at leg slip, to be honest," said Stokes.
Stokes got the player of the match award for leading from the front.
Fresh off an injury comeback, Stokes completed spells of 9.2 overs and 10 overs in his bid to maintain pressure on India. Despite his workload in the game, Stokes said he would be fine for the fourth Test beginning in Manchester on July 23.
"Oh, yeah. I'll be absolutely sound for Manchester. It's a big break. Obviously, I was pretty tired after Headingley. But, yeah, after we walked off the field there, sort of a whole new level of tiredness hit.
"And it's obviously different when you're ... I've been in games like that before, not as a captain, where I've been given the ball to run in and try to bowl the team to victory.
"But then now, adding on the decision making around bowling changes, field placings, how I feel we're gonna get this win. Obviously, there's a physical element of bowling in the fourth innings, but then it shouldn't be underestimated how the emotional and mental tiredness does also get you as well," he said.
In a big series like this, there would always be tension
Stokes was expectedly asked about the heated exchanges and sledging by players of both teams over the course of the game, and he did not read too much into it.
"I think in a big series like this there was always going to be a moment where the two teams were going to clash. I'm all for it as long as it does not cross the line.
"If you think about it, it's 22 people out there playing for their country. The highest honour you can have in our sport. So, you can understand that sometimes emotions and tensions can get quite high.
"But I don't think anyone in the Indian dressing room or anyone in the English dressing room is going to cry themselves to sleep over what was said or done out there. I don't think it overstepped the line from the India team or from our team.
"It wasn't really boiling up...it just happened but it adds to the spectacle of England vs India doesn't it?," he signed off.