Stokes did not want those extra four runs: Anderson
England fast bowler James Anderson revealed that his Test team mate Ben Stokes did not want the umpires to count the four overthrows that eventually played a part in seeing England lift the World Cup in their final against New Zealand at Lord’s on July 14.
England needed nine off the last three deliveries to win the final when Martin Guptill’s throw from the deep had ricocheted off Stokes’ hand before going for a four.
The umpires awarded six runs, two for the runs completed and four for the overthrow.
The match ultimately ended in a tie and the two teams could not be separated following their respective super overs, with England eventually being crowned world champions on a boundary count.
England Test fast bowler Anderson said that his team mate Stokes had asked the umpires to not count the boundary after the awarding of the overthrows.
"I think, talking to [retired England captain] Michael Vaughan who saw him after the game, Ben Stokes actually went to the umpires and said 'Can you take that four runs off? We don't want it'," Anderson told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.
Stokes, who labelled the incident as a ‘fluke’, had apologised to the New Zealand players on the field and also off the field after the game.
"I will be apologising to [Black Caps captain] Kane Williamson for the rest of my life … it was written in the stars to happen for us," Stokes said.
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