Ben Stokes would be forgiven for putting his feet up after an epic Ashes series, but that’s not how this remarkable cricketer operates.
Less than a week after his one-day resurrection, and amid murmurs of a top-flight crisis in the run-up to the World Cup, he defeated New Zealand on 182 – the highest score by an England player in 782 one-day internationals dating back 52 years. .
There were 15 fours and nine sixes in 124 chaos balls, handshakes from the fielders and a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd. Above all, there was a sense – ominous for opponents – that Stokes is ready to help England defend their title in India. It’s crazy to think he’s never passed 102 before.
With Dawid Malan contributing a high-class 96, England were able to absorb a late collapse of six for 32 and still make 368. Thanks to an excellent opening volley from Chris Woakes, New Zealand got nowhere close and were bowled out for 187.
Ben Stokes broke the record for the highest ever individual English ODI score
Stokes (R) and Dawid Malan (L) were the stars of the show as England dominated New Zealand
A win at Lord’s tomorrow will give England a 3-1 win – a flag in the grass before these sides meet again to kick off the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.
But if Stokes is in this mood, it might be better to just enjoy the moment. And having led England to an Ashes-squaring victory here at the end of July, he now gave a packed Oval his second treat of the summer.
When Trent Boult reduced England to 13 for two – including the wicket of Jonny Bairstow, who was caught at square leg on the first ball of the match – it was tempting to wonder whether the top order had picked a bad time to unravel.
Jason Roy’s plans for a first international appearance since March had already been ended by a back spasm. And because the World Cup 15 could be completed this weekend, he may still make way for Harry Brook. England’s Indian route is busy with domestic flights, and Roy’s bad back may be a risk they don’t want to take.
Stokes smashed 24 boundaries as he created history at the Oval on Wednesday
Joe Root, meanwhile, had been bowled off the edge four times, leaving him with ten runs in three innings and confirming suspicions that he was undercooked as a 50-over batsman for a long time. This was only his 18th ODI innings since England won the World Cup four years ago, in which time he averaged 27, with a strike-rate of 78.
But Malan, playing only because Roy was incapacitated, and Stokes glossing over concerns in a thumping stand of 199 inside 28 overs, only finished when Boult pressed for a review after Malan had offered the faintest of tickles on the leg side.
By then, Stokes had already brought up his fourth ODI hundred, and the first in six years. It had cost him 76 balls; his next 82 runs required only 48. It hardly seemed to matter that he occasionally bent his left knee.
In the end he hit Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand’s fastest bowler, for 10 fours alone, although he did not get over the fence until he had reached 63. The Oval likes its personal box.
He soon improved Roy’s England record of 180 against Australia in Melbourne in 2017-18, thanks to a huge six off Ben Lister’s left arm. Two balls later Stokes missed a full toss to deep square. England await their first one-day double hundred.
Jos Buttler had hit 38 before he was caught on a Phillips delivery that was dangerously close to a back-foot ball. But no one else passed 12 as Boult survived the carnage to win five for 51, and England’s hopes of 400 quickly vanished.
It turned out to be academic. Woakes took three wickets in an exemplary eight-over opening spell, with Reece Topley pinning the dangerous Devon Conway.
From 37 for four there was no way back, especially after Sam Curran left Daryl Mitchell – New Zealand’s best batsman as Kane Williamson continues his recovery from injury – behind at the assessment of 17.
Phillips made a fighting 72, but Stokes almost single-handedly defeated New Zealand.