Ashes 2021-22: On-field umpire bizarrely gives Ben Stokes LBW in Sydney Test

The fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground was a witness to a bizarre incident. During the third day’s play of the New Year’s Test, the on-field umpire adjudged Ben Stokes Leg Before Wicket. Cameron Green bowled a good length ball and Stokes shouldered arms. The leather jagged back and as it passed the batter, a woody sound was heard.

Assuming that the ball struck the batter on the back-pad, the on-field umpire raised his finger. However, Stokes was taken aback by the decision and he took no time in going for the Decision Review System. Replays showed that the ball had actually brushed the stumps and that’s where the sound came from. The cherry struck the timber with a lot of force, but the bails didn’t come off.

Ben Stokes survives

The bails stayed in their groove and everyone on the field saw the funnier side of the incident. Stokes also had a laugh, but would also have considered himself lucky since he didn’t get out Bowled. Stokes was starting to look into his groove, having hit a few fours.

Had he got out, the Joe Root-led Three Lions would have lost a crucial wicket at a critical juncture of the penultimate Test of the series. The left-handed Stokes was also seen grimacing in pain quite a few times as he seemed to have developed a side strain.

Here’s the video

During the English innings, there was a phase when the visitors played out 70 dot balls. Stokes didn’t throw his wicket and showed a lot of grit and patience. The southpaw stepped on the gas and notched a half-century off 70 balls with the help of eight fours. After the Brits lost four wickets for 36 runs, Stokes, along Jonny Bairstow, steadied the ship with a lot of courage and determination.

England had found themselves in all sorts of trouble as opening batter Haseeb Hameed, skipper Root and Dawid Malan failed to get into double digits. Prior to that, Australia racked up a colossal score of 416 for the loss of eight wickets in 134 overs. Usman Khawaja notched a 260-ball knock of 137, marking his Test comeback after two years on a grand note.

Meanwhile, the Stokes incident even caught the attention of batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who took to his Twitter account to raise a plea for the introduction of a new law called “hitting the stumps”, while tagging his old mate Shane Warne.