Super Over pressure forced Man of the Match Stokes to take a cigarette break

2019 World Cup final was a nerve-racking affair. Fans enjoyed a seat of the edge thriller but it was a test of for the cricketers who found themselves in the middle of the frantic action.

England’s hero Ben Stokes who single-handedly – and with the help of a bit of luck – got them their maiden World Cup found it difficult to maintain calm nerves ahead of the Super Over.

Now, after a year of that historic win, a book called ‘Morgan’s Men: The Inside Story of England’s Rise from Cricket World Cup Humiliation to Glory’ has allowed us a peek into what transpired ahead of the Super Over and how Stokes managed to remain calm.

According to the book, Ben Stokes had to sneak off for a “cigarette break” to calm his nerves ahead of the Super Over.

England later claimed their maiden 50 over World Cup title after beating New Zealand by the virtue of being ahead in boundary count after scores were tied even after the Super Over.

“Finding a quiet spot as the frenzy of the Super Over approached was hard in a ground packed out with 27,000 supporters and television cameras following the players from the middle, through the Long Room and up the stairs to the dressing room,” authors Nick Hoult and Steve James wrote. The excerpt has been published by stuff.co.nz.

“But Ben Stokes had played at Lord’s many times. He knows every nook and cranny. As Eoin Morgan tries to bring calm to the England dressing room and sort out their tactics, Stokes nips off for a moment of peace.

He is covered in dirt and sweat. He has batted for two hours and 27 minutes of unbelievable tension. What does Stokes do? He goes to the back of the England dressing room, past the attendant’s little office, and into the showers. There he lights up a cigarette and has few minutes on his own," the book further reads. 

Stokes was adjudged the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 84, plus his Super Over heroics where he managed eight runs.