Watch: Ben Stokes was caught out admiring his own handiwork in the third Australia-England T20I, neglecting to run in the assumption that a sweetly struck straight drive would reach the boundary rope.
Stokes belatedly attempted to scramble through for two runs and was nearly run out after being sent back by Jos Buttler.
The moment came on the last ball of England’s innings, shortened to 12 overs by rain. Glenn Maxwell, bowling the final over, had kept Stokes and Buttler quiet, conceding only ones and twos in his first five balls.
That looked to have changed on the final delivery, with Stokes nailing an expansive shot down the ground. In fact, Stokes was so pleased with his stroke that he began to walk off the pitch, only to be surprised as the fielder completed a sliding save before throwing the ball back in.
Buttler had almost reached the striker’s end by the time Stokes set off, with the all-rounder realising he needed to run and completing a single, slipping as he made his ground. More hilarity ensured, with Stokes then turning, despite the ball being almost within Maxwell’s grasp, before being sent back. He just regained his ground before the run out attempt could be completely.
England set Australia 130 to win on the DLS method.
Watch Stokes admire his own shot and run belatedly below:
Don’t bother running! No, wait, actually do #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/elaKpbsiBT
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 14, 2022
