ENG vs WI | Twitter reacts to Stokes spreading his arms and eyes in disbelief after Brook stunner at slip

07/10/2024

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When Ben 'you-cannot-do-that' Stokes expresses utter shock at a catch being pulled off, rest assured it is the real deal and one for the ages. On the day the 2024 English Test summer kicked off, Harry Brook took a diving one-handed blinder to mark a successful return to bowling for skip Ben Stokes.

‌On a cloudy London day, luck went England's way as Ben Stokes won the toss at Lord's and chose to bowl first on a relatively slow track with plenty of promise for swing and seam movement. West Indies stood their ground bravely for nearly an hour before the introduction of debutant Gus Atkinson into the attack brought two quick wickets and dried up the scoring rate significantly. However, fellow debutant Mikyle Louis continued to look good in tricky conditions, even as the now injury-free Ben Stokes put up a bowling clinic in tandem with Atkinson, and it eventually took a moment of magic to dismiss the opener for 27.

On the second ball of the 28th over, Stokes steamed in from over the wicket and angled a length ball onto the stumps that straightened just enough after hitting the deck to square up Louis. The batter had committed to a front-foot defence and the Duke flew off the outside edge towards the slip cordon but seemed destined to sneak through the gap between third slip and a fine gully. However, at the last moment, Brook at slip put in a perfectly timed dive low to his right with his right arm extended beyond the torso to grab onto the ball travelling at ankle height, with his knuckles grazing the surface.

Stokes was in sheer disbelief at the attempt and took a moment to realize the catch had been taken, reacting by flaring his eyes wide open and opening his arms even wider as he ran towards Brook with a huge grin on his face. The celebration was ironically reminiscent of Stuart Broad's famous outburst when Stokes himself had pulled off one such catch in the 2015 Trent Bridge Ashes Test, something Twitterati quickly pointed out.

What a grab!

pic.twitter.com/PfE19pnenh
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) July 10, 2024

Not a partime bowler anymore

Ben stokes bowling 5 overs 😭🤍😭🤍😭

He has some knee injury and chtyas started calling him part-time bowler.

We are back!!🤩✨ https://t.co/IJFTV5a9kv pic.twitter.com/zT6M8p3JSN
— . (@wasAB08) July 10, 2024

Years passed

Ben Stokes to Harry Brook

Same as

Stuart Broad to Ben Stokes

Years earlier #ENGvsWI #Surprised #SlipCatching
— ABS (@AbhiBSarda) July 10, 2024

Great one

That is great, Ben Stokes!
— Umar🌷 (@umartweets_) July 10, 2024

Got him

West Indies lost their 3rd wicket.

Ben Stokes get the wicket.

West Indies now 45/3#ENGvWI
— sports news (@CricUniverse7) July 10, 2024

Outsatnding catch

What a grab.

Harry Brook that is an outstanding one hand catch. Ben Stokes gets the edge of Mikyle Louis who goes for 27. And England have three before lunch, captain Ben Stokes now among the wickets. WI 44-3. #ENGvsWI
— Anmar Goodridge-Boyce (@anmargboyce) July 10, 2024

Happy to witness

Harry Brook taking a great catch off Ben Stokes' bowling. Things you like to see on a summer day.
— Robin Scott (@robinjescott) July 10, 2024

Three down

Stunning slip catch by @HarryBrook to dismiss @MikyleLouis off @benstokes38 puts #WestIndies 3 down for 47 after exciting start to a proper cricket match at Lord's. It's a Test Match, five days with all the twists & turns that can bring. The game the way it's supposed to be…
— Richard Ingham Evans (@Ringham7) July 10, 2024

Great one