Ben Stokes Headingley 2019: The Greatest Test Chase Ever
Ben Stokes scored 135* to win the Ashes Test at Headingley in 2019, chasing 359 with Jack Leach contributing a famous 1*. Relive cricket's most dramatic Test match finish.
On 25 August 2019, Ben Stokes produced one of the greatest individual batting performances in Test cricket history. Chasing an apparently impossible 359 at Headingley — with England's last pair together — Stokes hit an unbeaten 135 to win the third Ashes Test by one wicket.
The Context: England in Trouble
Australia had set England 359 to win on a difficult fourth-day pitch. England collapsed dramatically, losing wickets regularly. When No. 11 Jack Leach joined Stokes, England needed 73 more runs with one wicket remaining. Most observers assumed Australia had won.
The Partnership
Stokes and Leach's last-wicket partnership of 76 has entered cricket folklore. Leach faced 17 deliveries in a 15-minute over, scoring 1 run. Stokes took on the bowling with unrestrained aggression, hitting Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for sixes when boundaries seemed impossible.
The Winning Moment
Stokes hit the winning boundary off Josh Hazlewood. Jack Leach's contribution of 1* became iconic — his glasses-wiping between balls and single Stokes-facing over made him a cult hero. England won by 1 wicket and kept the Ashes series alive.
The Legacy
This innings transformed Stokes's career and England's cricketing identity. Two years later, Stokes was appointed England Test captain and introduced 'Bazball' — an attacking philosophy directly inspired by the courage shown at Headingley in 2019.
Frequently asked questions
How many runs did Ben Stokes score at Headingley in 2019?
Ben Stokes scored 135 not out at Headingley in 2019, hitting 11 fours and 8 sixes in England's 1-wicket win chasing 359.
What did Jack Leach score in the famous Headingley 2019 innings?
Jack Leach scored 1 not out from 17 balls, wearing glasses and wiping them between deliveries. His innings became iconic despite its modesty.