Ben Stokes' Ashes heroics: 5 key moments in the final hour from Nathan Lyon's fumble to Jack Leach's glasses

The final hour of play at Headingley had everything as England beat Australia by one wicket

England's Ben Stokes and Jack Leach celebrate after Stokes scored the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. England beat Australia by one wicket. AFP

Australia's Marcus Harris cannot take a catch to dismiss England's Ben Stokes. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates winning the Test match at Headingley against Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes and Jack Leach celebrate after Stokes scored the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. England beat Australia by one wicket. AFP

England's Ben Stokes is hit on the helmet by a ball from one of Australia's bowlers. He went on to score 135 not out to steer England to a one-wicket win. AFP

England's Ben Stokes reacts after England won the third Ashes cricket Test. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates hitting the winning runs on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test. AFP

England's Ben Stokes celebrates as his unbeaten 135 saw England home to a one-wicket win over Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes watches on as Australia's Ben Cummings bowls to Jack Leach. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes celebrates as his unbeaten 135 saw England home to a one-wicket win over Australia. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes hits a six on his way to an unbeaten 135 against Australia as England won the third Ashes Test at Headingley to level the series at 1-1 with two to play. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes turns for a second run. AFP

Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals against England on Day 4 at Headingley. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. Reuters

Australia's Pat Cummins bowls on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test against England. AFP

England's Ben Stokes in action taking the game to the Australia attack. Reuters

Australia's Nathan Lyon in action. Reuters

Australia's James Pattinson celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Stuart Broad. Reuters

Australia's David Warner celebrates taking the wicket of England captain Joe Root for 77 runs. AFP

Australia's David Warner takes a catch from Nathan Lyon's bowling to dismiss England's Joe Root. Reuters

England's captain Joe Root walks back to the pavilion. AFP

England's Jonny Bairstow is caught playing this shot off the bowling of Australia's Josh Hazlewood. AFP

England's Jonny Bairstow walks back to the pavilion. AFP

England's Ben Stokes gestures before Jos Buttler is run out. AFP

Australia's Travis Head catches out England's Jofra Archer Action on the boundary. Reuters

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates taking the wicket of England's Chris Woakes. Reuters

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Jonny Bairstow. AFP

Australia's Josh Hazlewood in action. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes (L) and England's Jack Leach celebrates after winning on the fourth day of the third Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on August 25, 2019. England beat Australia by one wicket to win epic third Test. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB / AFP / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

It was an hour of cricket that will be hard to forget - even for the neutral.

Ben Stokes produced one of Test cricket's greatest innings as he led England to a one-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley.

The scorecard showed the perilous position he was in, with wickets falling all around him on the fourth day of the third Test. Had England lost, Australia would have retained the Ashes.

But beyond the numbers there was edge-of-your-seat drama in abundance during one of sport's most thrilling climaxes.

Here's five key moments from the remarkable ending to the Test:

1. Stokes starts clearing the ropes 

He started in painstaking fashion, scoring just two runs off his first 50 balls, but as he was left with just No 11 Jack Leach Stokes was a man in a hurry. He struck eight sixes during the final 10 overs, including two off successive balls from Josh Hazlewood which followed a boundary. It was real heart-in-the-mouth stuff with Australian fielders circling underneath.

2. Australia foolishly use up their last review

Pat Cummins was bowling to Leach with England needing eight to win when he fired down a leg-stump yorker. The ball cannoned off Leach's pad and the Aussie players all appealed. Not out said the umpire, and to the naked eye, rightly so. Australia, more in desperation than hope, knowing that Stokes could end the match in two hits, appealed the decision. The replay showed it pitched way outside leg stump. A huge mistake, as Australia would soon find out.

3. Nathan Lyon drops the Ashes

Another Stokes six in the following over off Nathan Lyon took England even closer to victory. But there's more drama to be had. A mix-up as Stokes and Leach try to scamper a single. Stokes sent Leach back to the non-striker's end with Leach way short of making his ground as the ball was returned to Lyon standing next to the stumps. The Australia bowler dropped it and Leach made it back to safety. Shades of South Africa's Allan Donald and Lance Klusener in the 1999 World Cup against Australia.

England's Ben Stokes and Jack Leach celebrate. Action Images via Reuters

4. Stokes is plumb lbw but given not out

And still the craziness continued. The next ball saw Stokes attempt a slog-sweep, which he missed, and is rapped on the pad right in front of the stumps. Umpire Joel Wilson shook his head - not out. Replays showed the stumps would have been splayed, but Australia had just wasted their last review in the previous over.

5. Put Jack Leach's glasses in the British Museum

While Stokes was setting off fireworks at one end, Leach was quietly going about his business at the other - repeatedly cleaning his glasses. The tailender was at the crease for an hour, contributing one run to the partnership of 76, though he did face 17 crucial balls.

But for England fans, the memory will be of him having to deal with the tricky task of sorting his eyewear out as the whole of England felt the heat of this epic battle.