England star Ben Stokes: Best Test figures can kickstart personal Ashes campaign

BEN STOKES said it was a huge relief to weigh in with his best Test bowling figures after admitting his efforts with the ball have been “letting the team down” this summer.

Ben StokesGETTY

Ben Stokes took 6-22, his best ever figures

The all-rounder blew West Indies away with career best 6-22 as the tourists slumped to 123 all out in the third and deciding Test before England collapsed to 46-4 at the close.

Now Stokes, who has now reached the honours board at Lord’s with bat and ball, is hoping his improved performance can kickstart his bowling ahead of the Ashes.

“I hope it is a starting point and I can start producing some better performances with the ball,” he said.

“I’ve felt the last three or four weeks I was getting back to more consistency with my action but not quite producing what I wanted to in the middle.

“I was letting the team down a little bit. But to go out there and bowl the way I did today was a monkey off my back.”

Cricket commentator Geoffrey Boycott gets pranked on TMS

I hope it is a starting point and I can start producing some better performances

England star Ben Stokes

For all that Stokes has been in the form of his life with the bat he has taken just 10 wickets in the previous six Tests this summer.

His superb two-hour spell either side of tea blew the game open for all that his six-wicket haul denied Jimmy Anderson the chance for his 500th Test wicket.

England’s leading wicket taker was stranded overnight on 499 despite taking two wickets in 12 balls early on.

But Stokes has no doubt that Anderson will reach the milestone during the second innings insisting the senior man is bowling at the peak of his powers.

“The over he bowled to [Devendra] Bishoo was the best over in the history of Test cricket not to get a wicket.

“I’ve got no idea how he didn’t manage to get one. But he’s got another crack at getting the big 500 and I’m sure he will.”

Stokes added: “He has been a class performer and I hope I’m on the pitch when he manages to get it.”

Stuart Broad was missing from the middle for much of the West Indies innings after suffering discomfort to his left heel after tripping on the pavilion steps coming down after lunch.

The bowler, who had treatment last night, suffered with problems to the fat pad in his heel earlier this summer and an England spokesman confirmed it was the same injury.

Despite England’s late collapse Stokes believes the hosts are still in a decent position.

“We’ve still got to score runs to try to get ahead of them but Iif we can get up to their score and 100 past we’ll fancy ourselves,” he said.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?