On July 2, Ben Stokes became a sensation on social media after his valiant innings of 155 runs in the fourth innings of the second Test against Australia at Lord’s. Despite his heroic efforts to single-handedly chase down a daunting target of 371 runs, Stokes fell to Josh Hazlewood when England still needed 70 more runs.
However, before his dismissal, a heated exchange ensued between the two star-studded teams, triggered by Alex Carey’s underarm throw that resulted in Jonny Bairstow’s stumping. Stokes recently addressed the incident during an interview with BBC Test Match Special, clarifying that Bairstow had left his crease only to have a conversation with him, assuming the over had concluded.
He acknowledged that Bairstow was indeed out and did not dispute the decision. However, he expressed his reluctance to win a game through such means, stating, “The answer for me is no.”
In response to Stokes’ comments, the front page of a West Australian publication dubbed the England cricketers as “Crybabies” and depicted Stokes as an infant in diapers. This caught the attention of the England captain.
That’s definitely not me, since when did I bowl with the new ball https://t.co/24wI5GzohD
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) July 3, 2023
Stokes, however, brilliantly responded on Twitter, humorously remarking, “That’s definitely not me, since when did I bowl with the new ball.” The incident quickly garnered attention from netizens, who praised the all-rounder’s witty comeback.