Ben Stokes changes the field and it works perfectly, a breakdown
What Happened
In a crucial Test match between England and Pakistan, England's veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes demonstrates his tactical acumen by orchestrating a brilliant fielding change that immediately pays dividends. The match is finely poised, with the score tied and both teams vying for the upper hand. As the Pakistani batsman Saud Shakeel steps up to the crease, Stokes quickly assesses the situation and decides to shuffle his fielders. He calls over Zak Crawley and instructs him to move to a different position, adjusting the field to better suit the bowler's line of attack. The Pakistani batsman, Saud Shakeel, recognizes the shift in the field and adjusts his approach, attempting to take advantage of the newly opened space. However, Stokes' tactical move proves to be a masterstroke. On the very next delivery, Saud Shakeel attempts to take a single, but the ball is hit directly at the newly positioned Crawley, who calmly collects the ball and completes the run-out. The crowd erupts in celebration as Crawley's sharp reflexes and precise positioning contribute to a crucial wicket for the English team. The dismissal is a testament to Stokes' keen understanding of the game and his ability to read the situation. As the Pakistani batsman walks back to the pavilion, the English players, including wicket-keeper Ollie Pope, congratulate Crawley on his excellent work in the field. Pope's playful interaction with Crawley, including a gentle tap on the head, further emphasizes the team's camaraderie and the importance of the moment. The sequence highlights the nuances of Test cricket, where strategic field placements and quick reactions can make all the difference. Stokes' willingness to adapt the field in response to the batsman's approach, coupled with Crawley's execution, demonstrates the level of tactical awareness and teamwork required to succeed at the highest level of the sport. As the match continues, the crowd's reaction and the players' celebrations underscores the significance of this pivotal moment, which could potentially swing the momentum in England's favor as they seek to secure a crucial victory on the challenging pitches of Pakistan.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momenttest crickets begun I guess I found
myself watching test Cricket begin cuz I
enjoy it and that's about as simple as
it gets I watch it because I enjoy it
leech for England took a wicket early in
this match against Pakistan in Pakistan
and the spin's working but I loved this
I love when they change the field and
then it pays off that ball is hit to
Harry Brooke who misfields it I mean
it's hit pretty much right at him could
he have caught it we don't really know
from this angle it short hops him in
front but he can't even block it so it
goes for a single and those are the
first runs for sea I believe is the
Batters name for pent so the next time
leech balls to me just straight defense
and then we get Ben Stokes telling
Crawley hey move over and I was watching
this I was laying in bed I was about to
fall asleep and I was like oh I love
when we can see them move the field in
reaction to something I wonder what he
saw okay they took Harry Brooke earlier
so that's the move right there he's just
saying hey hey get more to you know
square of wicket and uh Crawley's like
okay cool now Shan the batter sees this
and he's like wait I can just kind of
Hit It Forward now and go for singles
that's cool I'll do that no one's in
front and he's like bam kind of shuffles
down a little bit and you can see
Crawley's reaction is a little like oh
right there because that's where he was
standing and he's like oh Ben I don't
know maybe he's thinking I don't know I
was there could have had it he's smiling
he's like haha I got you the next one
boom right at Zack Crawley who takes the
catch goes down got those long Limbs and
look at oi Pope coming in and he's just
he's just right at that bald head he's
like come here come here both hands I'm
touching you I'm touching you and then
for some reason for some dumb reason
they cut away and they see you know he's
not smiling anymore he's not and then we
come back and Stokes is like hey here
boy here boy you go good
job good boy good boy proud of you B
right on the head
right on the head cute the fans are
loving it this guy not he's like I I
came to watch uh good match this is
going to this is going to this is going
to be oh three days what uh he's not
into it at all it's got some turn and
he's early on it which means it's going
to hit you know higher up on the bat as
the bat's coming up which is going to
give it more Loft because he's a little
earlier on it you know leech puts a
little more Loft on the ball and then it
hits and it really turns see his Bat
swivel and it goes right where they move
the long limed Fielder Crawley who does
a really good job staying down on it
look at this overlay this is the single
and then the Wicket so the two fielders
they had Brook there they moved him back
and then eventually put Crawley there
and their reaction times are quite
different and you know method of going
at the ball also kind of different where
this is perfectly synced up I have at
the same time same place and you can see
cley on the right he's tall
but he stays down his first move is down
right right here see how he's starting
standing up with his hands on his knees
and then he's going to move down as the
ball is being bowled where Brooke is the
opposite he's starting low and he moves
up and that's the the difference uh also
longer limbs helps because cley's kind
of down and ready to just lunge back and
forth where Brooks has his weight up
he's on his toes and then he's kind of
flat footed has to shuffle and then
bounces but I love when they move the
Fielder and then it instantly pays off
and that's what happened there