The last match of the Ashes 2023 series is turning out to be another thriller encounter in the series, with lots of drama and controversies. A fresh twist took place on the last day of the 5th Ashes 2023 Test as England skipper Ben Stokes couldn’t keep the hold of a catch that would have sent Steve Smith back right at the stroke of lunch on Monday.
Ben Stokes Took A Stunning Catch And Then Dropped It
The bizarre incident took place when Moeen Ali’s delivery hit the glove of Steve Smith as he came forward to defend and Stokes leaped up to take the catch. He caught hold of the ball but while coming down, Ben Stokes’ hand hit his right knee and the ball slipped out.
England decided to go for a review after the on-field umpire gave it not out but the 3rd umpire also backed the on-field umpire’s decision as he deemed that Stokes wasn’t fully in control of the ball during the catch. Because of the whole drama, Steve Smith got a new lifeline in the game.
The video of the incident has been going viral on the internet, watch it here:
Out or not out? 🤷♂️ #EnglandCricket| #Ashes pic.twitter.com/q2XCJuUpxM
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 31, 2023
Meanwhile, social media has been buzzing with reactions from fans to the dropped catch. From hilarious memes to jokes, fans are leaving no stone unturned to troll the England captain.
Check out the reactions of the fans:
What a moment in the game.
Stokes dropped Smith….!!! It came in a most astonishing way.pic.twitter.com/b4COPSiGPl
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 31, 2023
Not for the first time, an uncontrolled wild right arm swing has landed Ben Stokes in toruble
— Tooves (@OneTooves) July 31, 2023
KP – “What a catch, what a player, what a moment. He’s a genius Ben Stokes.”
RP – “Yeah, but he’s dropped it now and he lost a review.” pic.twitter.com/uD8doefoVE
— Jonathan Walsh (@JonathanJWalsh) July 31, 2023
Not the first thing Ben Stokes has dropped with his right hand #Ashes #ENGvAUS #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/2A3EjkVT79
— Rors (@Rorsroars) July 31, 2023
A big moment in the Ashes – Ben Stokes fumbled the catch during his celebration!#Ashes2023 #Ashespic.twitter.com/mRoW8Sb3yw
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) July 31, 2023
Ben Stokes dropped Steve Smith.
He actually took the catch but dropped but ball while celebrating.
A big big moment in the game and the Ashes.pic.twitter.com/yUmV4q0vBb
— 🅒🅡🅘︎🅒︎🄲🅁🄰🅉🅈𝗠𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗨™ 🇮🇳❤️ (@MSDianMrigu) July 31, 2023
The drama on Day 5 in 5th Ashes Test – Ben Stokes' dropped the catch of Steve Smith.
What a massive moment, One of most defining moment of this Ashes! pic.twitter.com/EZEZD1yScG
— संगीत चौधरी (@thesangeetujan) July 31, 2023
Call me Ben Stokes cause I'm not much of a catch.
— The junk for your trunk (@Budulnya) July 31, 2023
Ben Stokes dropped the catch and dropped the match. Ball hit Smith's gloves and if catch the was taken, Aussies would have got a big dent. Luck is with Australia and England is in deep pressure#ENGvsAUS
The Oval#Ashes2023
Spirit of Cricket#AUSvENG #Ashes pic.twitter.com/lKRCRbHvYg— Sports syncs (@moiz_sports) July 31, 2023
Talking about the game, Australia is 238/3 at Lunch with Steve Smith and Travis Smith in the middle. England was on song in the first session as they snapped up 3 important wickets of Australians in the first session with David Warner, Usman Khawaja, and Marnus Labuschagne all back to the pavilion courtesy of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.
Smith was unbeaten on 40 at the interval and Travis Head on 31 as Australia look forward to winning the Ashes 2023 series in England for the first time since 2001.
