Stuart Broad Reveals Ben Stokes Was Fired Up After India Targeted Zak Crawley on Day 3

Stokes Fired Up by India’s Crawley Tactics, Says Broad, as England Push for Win at Lord’s

Ben Stokes has shown remarkable fire and resilience on Day 5 at Lord’s, and former teammate Stuart Broad believes the England captain’s energy may have been sparked by India’s aggressive targeting of Zak Crawley on Day 3 of the ongoing Test.

Stokes, who delivered the final over on Day 4, returned with a marathon 14-over spell on the final day—his third-longest in Test cricket. Despite a recent history of injury management and limited bowling workloads, the all-rounder charged in tirelessly, holding one end as Jofra Archer tore through India’s top order.

Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket, Broad pointed to an over late on Day 3, when Indian players appeared to zero in on Crawley both verbally and tactically.

“What would have fired him up in this game was the Indian team targeting Zak Crawley in that one over,” Broad said. “It was great fun, brilliant to watch, but he wouldn’t have liked the fact that one of his players was out there alone, with just Ben Duckett for company, and the team going at him.”

Broad noted a shift in England’s body language and intensity after that moment, particularly during Archer’s hostile spell on the final day.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen this England team this verbal,” he added. “Archer bowls the bouncer to [Dhruv] Reddy—duck, bang—everyone’s around him, letting him know he’s under pressure. That was ignited.”

Stokes led from the front, not just with the ball but also in tone, constantly engaging with batters and setting attacking fields. His animated presence has been a driving force in England’s final-day push.

“He’s creating a mental battle and trying to shift the Indian mindset,” Broad said. “His team is right there with him.”

Stokes’ efforts drew praise across social media. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan called him the “heart of the England team,” while journalist Vikrant Gupta and others applauded his commitment to the team’s cause, workload concerns notwithstanding.

With the match delicately poised, England will need to finish off the Indian tail to seal a dramatic win—one that could owe much to their captain’s spark and steel.