In his latest blog, the Ashes legend reveals the impact that Ben Stokes' Headingley heroics will have, but says comparing them to his own innings in 2005 is difficult.
Ben Stokes’ life has changed forever
The Ashes creates you as a player and the Ashes can destroy you as a player.
What Ben Stokes did on Sunday created him as a player and put him on the world stage.
His life will change for the better. He will now be living in a world of expectations.
I don’t know Stokes as much as I could have known him, because he was only ever with us for the 2013/14 Ashes tour and that wasn’t the greatest series.
There was all sorts of stuff going on, but I rated him as a player. I knew that a star was born when I saw his hundred in Perth on that tour.
It was absolutely magnificent the way that he played that day – scoring Test hundreds at the WACA is no easy feat.
I thought that it was quite amazing what he did there, so what he’s done in the last few weeks doesn’t surprise me.
Now, he has to make sure that he can handle the expectation, understand the expectation, enjoy the expectation and deliver the expectation, because it affects different kinds of players differently.
Where does Stokes’ hundred rank?
Everyone is saying Stokes’ innings at Headingley is the best Ashes hundred ever – I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to my 158 at The Oval in 2005.
But it must be acknowledged that his was a match-winning innings – he actually won the match single-handedly – which is a great, great achievement.
To play with the control he did, knowing one mistake would end the match and the series, was incredible.
Mine in 2005 was just an innings to bat the draw, we only saved the game.
It is hard to make comparisons between the quality of the two innings, because the pressures on each one were so different.
We hadn’t won the Ashes for 18 years in 2005, so the expectation on us was huge, but pulling off a run chase like Stokes did is really special.
I’m incredibly proud of the way he played – he is becoming a superstar.
The impact Stokes has made on the game
But there will also be a lasting affect to this innings that will be so amazing for the regeneration and rejuvenation of cricket in England.
It didn’t look like this amazing summer was going to end on a high for the England cricket team after that 67 all out in the first innings at Headingley.
I think that what they’ve done for the game – the ODI team in the last few months and the Test team in the last few days – has been truly magnificent for growing the game again in England.
That’s so important for a sport that I love, for a sport that provided me with so many opportunities – even the opportunity that I’ve got right now in Africa.
I just want the game to grow, I want the game to get better, and I want people to love the sport.
That’s probably the overriding theme of enjoyment and satisfaction from my side, knowing that the game is growing and is in pretty safe hands with this current England squad.
Inside the dressing room
Sitting and watching tense finales is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences.
When you’re a player and you’re actually playing and in control of your own destiny, it’s a lot more comfortable.
You feel like you are in complete control. You understand the situation of the game, you can do everything that you need to get the job done.
It’s like waiting to bat, you just want to know when you’re going to get in.
It can be compared to 2005.
At Trent Bridge, I had to sit in the dressing room watching Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard chase those runs and that was a horrible experience. At The Oval, I was in control.
This series has lots of comparisons to 2005. It’s going to be a thrilling finale over the next few weeks.
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