CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

Ben Stokes has joined the long list of Kiwi sportsmen and women to break Australia’s heart this year, with his unbelievable century to steer England to a miraculous one-wicket win in the third Test at Headingley.

England were faced with the laughable prospect of chasing down 359 — the biggest run chase in the team’s history — to keep series the series alive with a 1-1 tie – only on thanks to Stokes’s innings of 135 not out.

Stokes has surprised the internationally cricketing community with this sensational save – mirrored only by the time he managed to get away with belting some bloke out front of a pub when he claimed he was defending civil rights.

However, unlike the punch-on, last night Stokes’ noble actions were 100% verified by the millions of people watching at the game and at home.

England started the day 203 runs away from the victory target and it looked like Australia had weathered Stokes’s brilliance when he only had one batting partner left with 73 runs still required. But he did it. And we lost the match.

This means Australia is one step closer to doing what we do best and choking against mediocre sides in underwhelming test series.

For Australian cricket fans, Stokes’ performance has once again reiterated the undeniable truth that cricket sometimes sucks.