Five innings in 2019 that reaffirmed the quality of Test cricket

#1 Ben Stokes - 135* vs Australia at Headingly

Stokes was sensational in his innings of 135*

Trailing 1-0, England won the toss and chose to bowl first to capitalize on the overcast conditions in the third Ashes Test. Jofra Archer did that with a spell of 6-45, which bowled the Australians out for 179. The Australian bowling attack responded brilliantly to dismiss the home team for just 67.

Riding on Marnus Labuschagne's 80, the Aussies set an improbable target of 359 for England to keep the Ashes hopes alive. Joe Root and Joe Denly's 126-run partnership steadied the home side's innings after they lost the openers early. Ben Stokes started slowly as he scored only two runs in his first 66 balls. A Josh Hazlewood bouncer hit and broke the neck guard on the back of his helmet.

The 28-year old shrugged off his early jitters and kept the scoreboard ticking along with Jonny Bairstow. The dismissal of Bairstow increased the pressure on Stokes. It went to another level as a wrong call from him resulted in Jos Buttler being run out. England lost their ninth wicket at 286, still requiring 73 to win.

Stokes unleashed his power game as he scored runs in boundaries. Despite the ball spinning off the track, he attacked Nathan Lyon. Sixes off a switch-hit and a scoop rattled the opposition. It was evident in the way two catches were dropped off consecutive balls. Then Lyon fumbled the ball to miss an easy run-out chance.

The pressure got to the umpires as well as a clear LBW decision was given not out. But Stokes kept his cool, and scored the winning runs through point to script one of the historic wins in Test history.