They shared a 76-run partnership at Leeds for the last wicket to help England overhaul Australia's target. But they might have had a better binding agent in their partnership. Jack Leach revealed that Stokes' hundred at Lord's had come after he wore something Leach owned and after a hundred in the second Test, he used the same piece of equipment to hit the match-winning knock at Leeds.
"In the Lord’s game, he had to get ready quite quickly. There were a couple of wickets and he lost his box, so he was panicking," Leach told BBC Somerset.
That's right. Leach says that Stokes' box guard was missing as he was gearing up to bat in the second innings at Lord's. He then took Leach's protector and went on to make a terrific ton to help England draw the Test match.
Considering it a kind of lucky charm, Stokes wore the same protector, which Leach owned, at Leeds.
"He was not out at the end of the day and he was like; ‘this is going to sound weird, but I need to keep using your box.’ So obviously I was like; ‘yeah that’s fine’, Leach revealed.
"After that (Lord’s) innings he was like; ‘mate, I’m going to have to keep that box now. It’s a bit of a superstitious thing’.
Read: Five iconic last-wicket stands in the fourth innings of a Test match
Cricket has seen some very weird superstitious cricketers. From Virender Sehwag's numberless jersey and Steve Waugh's lucky red handkerchief to Neil McKenzie having to tap the ceiling with his bat before an innings to Malinga kissing the ball, cricket fans have seen cricketers and their outrageous superstitions in the past.
But Ben Stokes' superstition has had them wonderstruck.
🎶 New Song Alert 🎶
— Raj Nagarkatti (@rajnagarkatti) August 30, 2019
(To the tune of Postman Pat)
“Leach’s Box, Leach’s Box, Leach’s Box,
Gave the Aussies shocks.....
Now Stokesy’s got protection,
He’s guarantee to make tons,
And Jack the lad’s not asking for it back!”@benstokes38 @jackleach1991 #Ashes #BarmyArmy #NewSong
The choice now facing Jack Leach is:
— Simon (@AncientKeeper) August 29, 2019
1. Borrow Ben Stokes' old box, or
2. Buy a new box.
Think we all know which way that one's going.....
So who's box did Jack leach use?
— Zeld (@Mandark___) August 29, 2019
This is third piece of Jack Leach's equipment that has attracted attention this week. First, it was his glasses that gained attention with Ben Stokes calling out to SpecSaver to give Leach free glasses for life.
Jack Leach........@Specsavers do your self a favour and give him free glasses for life @jackleach1991
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) August 25, 2019
Stuart Broad added on to it by asking them to give him glass cleaning clothes as well.
& cleaning cloths
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 25, 2019
Very soon, Specsavers went on to confirm that they would provide Leach free glasses for life after his heroics at Leeds.
We can confirm we will offer Jack Leach free glasses for life https://t.co/7rfPBK77GS
— Specsavers UK (@Specsavers) August 25, 2019
After his glasses and glass cloth, another equipment from Leach's kit is garnering attention. This time around, though, he wasn't the one wearing it.
This Stokes superstition surely has enough oomph to set the "box" office ringing, we'd say.
Read: Ben Stokes and Kusal Perera - two similar but exceptional centuries
Featured image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis
