Watch: Ben Stokes took the huge wicket of Steve Smith just before lunch on Day Two of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, topping off an excellent morning session for England.
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Stokes came on to bowl with Smith settled at the crease after coming into bat during a tricky period for Australia. Stuart Broad had dismissed David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne off consecutive deliveries to leave Australia reeling at 29-2.
As Smith and Usman Khawaja rebuilt for Australia and the clocked ticked towards the end of the session, England’s captain brought himself on to bowl for the first time in the innings. There was some doubt coming into the Test as to how frequently Stokes would be able to bowl. He has an ongoing knee injury that requires him to wear heavy strapping when bowling, and he did not bowl at all in England’s opening Test of the summer against Ireland at Lord’s.
Nevertheless, he bowled a tidy first over and conceded just a no ball and a single off the first five of his second. Coming into bowl his last delivery of the over, the ball came back in off a shorter length and struck Smith on the pad as he looked to defend. Stokes turned around, bent backwards appealing to umpire Marais Erasmus, who took time to make his mind up before raising his finger.
As the England team celebrated, Smith immediately signalled for the review. The ball looked high on impact, striking him high on the the flap of his front pad, albeit fairly far deep at the crease. However, ball-tracking returned three reds to the jubilation of England in the field and the Edgbaston crowd.
The wicket, Stokes’ first in Tests since Devon Conway at Mount Maunganui in February this year, left Australia on 67-3.
Watch: Steve Smith given out to tight lbw, ball-tracking returns three reds to give Stokes a crucial wicket
Three reds, Steve Smith is GONE! 🟥
Ben Stokes with a HUGE wicket for England! 💪 pic.twitter.com/MetJpqAVlH
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 17, 2023
