June 21, 2023 
By India Today Sports Desk: Ben Stokes heaped praise on Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad for bowling their hearts out on Day 5 of the first Ashes Test at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. Robinson and Broad bowled with the second new ball when Australia needed around 30 runs to win with two wickets in hand.
The pace duo mixed their line and lengths cleverly, but Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were equal to the task. Stokes also lauded Broad for “putting his body on the line”.
Broad finished with figures of 21-3-64-3 and got the all-important wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and night-watchman Scott Boland. He peppered the lower order batters with a barrage of short balls. However, his efforts went in vain as Australia took a 1-0 series lead with a two-wicket win.
“The effort and energy from Robbo and Broady at the end was incredible. Broad is up there absolutely cooked. He's put his body on the line, long may it continue," Stokes was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Stokes also lauded Joe Root for chipping in with the ball at a time when Moeen Ali was struggling to bowl due to a finger injury. Root was hit for two sixes down the ground by Cummins, but he got the wicket of Alex Carey and finished with figures of 15-2-43-1.
“Would have been great to have Moeen, but I think Rooty did a fantastic job. I told Mo to tell me if his finger was sore. For him to put himself through the pain barrier, I've got no complaints,” he added.
“Incredible for your senior batter to play the way he did yesterday. The game was in the balance and the bravery to go out and play as he did was unbelievable,” Stokes added.
England will now look to make amends when the second Ashes Test starts on June 28 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
--- ENDS ---
July 20, 2024 
