Ben Stokes reveals that he didn’t ask the umpires to take back runs from the controversial overthrow

England finally realized their dream of winning the 50-over World Cup as they defeated New Zealand in the finals of the recently concluded mega event on basis of boundary count. This happened because for the first time in ODI World Cup history, the final ended in a tie and then the ensuring Super Over also ended in a tie.

The hero for England was all-rounder Ben Stokes who first scored 84* in the chase of 242 runs and helped England draw level with the total put on by the Kiwis and then also scored some runs in the super over, helping his team put on 15 runs. Stokes was later named the Player of the Final for his amazing contribution in the tournament.

There was a moment in the last over of the final when on the fourth ball, Stokes hit the ball towards Martin Guptill and as he was diving to make his ground while completing the second run, the throw hit his bat and was diverted to a four via overthrows. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena had a word with his fellow umpire and awarded England six runs.

Stokes confirms that he didn’t ask umpires to take back the four extra runs

Later it was revealed by James Anderson, that Stokes had asked the umpire to take back the extra four runs of the overthrow. But the man himself, Ben Stokes has now revealed that he never asked the umpires to do anything like that.

“I saw all of that. I was thinking to myself, did I say that? But hand on heart, I did not go up to the umpires and say something like that to the umpires. I went straight to Tom Latham and said ‘Mate, I am so sorry’, looked over to Kane (Williamson) and said ‘I’m sorry’,” Stokes was quoted as saying on a BBC podcast Tuffers and Vaughan.

That overthrow turned the match in England’s favor given that after those six runs, England only needed 3 off the last two balls. “That’s obviously been a big talking point. Don’t think there’s much to say. If you do that a thousand times again it’s not going to happen. Martin Guptill threw the ball in from 70 yards near the boundary and its managed to hit my bat off a full dive and go to the boundary. it’s a freak, freak accident,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes will feature in the upcoming Ashes 2019 and has been restored as the vice-captain of the England side, after being stripped of the title due to his involvement in the pub brawl in 2017. The first Test begins in Edgbaston on Aug 1, which will also mark the start of the ICC World Test Championship.