England skipper Ben Stokes let a golden opportunity slip by to dismiss Australian star batsman Steve Smith, who was once again proving to be a thorn in England’s side on the last day of the 5th Ashes 2023 Test at The Oval.
On the stroke of Lunch on Day 5, Stokes had taken a terrific catch while jumping up in the air at leg-slip after an off-break delivery from Moeen Ali had taken Smith’s glove.
However, while in his celebration, Stokes’s hand with the ball in it hit his leg and the ball fell out of his hand. Third umpire Nitin Menon spotted this and ruled that Stokes was not fully in control of the ball and his body and didn’t complete his celebration with the ball in hand, thus, deeming Steve Smith not out.
As soon as the third umpire ruled that Stokes had dropped the catch in his celebration, this quickly turned the fans to trending Herschelle Gibbs on social media.
For the unversed, Gibbs had dropped Australia captain Steve Waugh’s catch in a group game in the 1999 World Cup in what was a must-win encounter for Australia. Waugh smashed a century which helped Australia reach the semis, where they again met South Africa and knocked them out in a tied game. Australia were the winner of that tied semi-final as they had defeated South Africa in the group stage.
Steve Waugh is famously known to have said to Gibbs that he’s dropped the World Cup in his premature celebration.
Herschelle Gibbs hilariously trolls Ben Stokes
Gibbs reacted to a post on social media putting Ben Stokes’ catch drop during his celebration in a highlight.
Herschelle Gibbs wrote: “Seen this somewhere before”
Why was Steve Smith given not out despite gloving the ball?
Because Stokes had dropped the ball while in his celebration of the catch. Stokes’ hand hit his thigh and he dropped the catch. According to the law, Stokes wasn’t in full control of his body and the ball during his celebration that wasn’t completed with the ball in his hand.
Law 33.3 states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has complete control over the ball and his/her movement.
Smith survived because of Stokes’ casualness in his celebration. England also lost a review as Joel Wilson’s on-field decision was not overturned.
