Ben Stokes was 'too good' for Australia in 'best Test innings', admits Australia captain Tim Paine

George Flood25 August 2019

Tim Paine admitted that Ben Stokes was simply too good for Australia as the England all-rounder produced an "unbelievable" knock to secure a key victory in the third Ashes Test.

Stokes played arguably the worst shot of a dismal first-innings collapse at Headingley on Friday as the hosts' hopes of regaining the famous urn looked to be slipping away, yet responded with one of the greatest Test batting displays of all time as his 135* sealed a stunning one-wicket win that ties the five-match series at 1-1.

Such a performance continued a memorable summer for Stokes - who also played a famous match-winning role in England's dramatic World Cup final win over New Zealand at Lord's last month - and may have landed a crucial blow on Australia in advance of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins on September 4.

"It's hard to take, losing that from that position but you tip your hat sometimes," Australia captain Paine told Sky Sports.

"Ben Stokes played an unbelievable innings and in the end he was too good for us.

In Pictures | England chase down 359 to win third Test

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"It was probably the best Test innings I've seen and the rest of the team thought the same thing. It was an unbelievable innings."

Paine was keen to stress to his Australia team-mates that the defeat was not "the end of the world" as the tourists attempt to shake off the disappointment heading to Old Trafford, where key batsman Steve Smith could return after missing the third Test due to concussion.

"When Ben is at the crease you're always worried. We've seen him in one-day cricket, he bats really well and controls the game," he added.

"There are always things you could do differently. Cricket is a game of inches and there were balls landing in gaps. We had a few opportunities ourselves.

"It's a test of character. But as I've just said to the boys now, it's not the end of the world. It's a game of cricket and we're here to win the series."

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