‘Aur kya hi chahiye zindagi me’ – Fans react as Ben Stokes writes history; becomes first Test captain to win a match without batting, bowling or wicketkeeping

England Test skipper, Ben Stokes made history on Saturday, June 3, when he became the first captain in Test history to lead his side to victory without engaging in any form of batting, bowling, or wicket-keeping. In the lone Test between the two teams, England and Ireland, played at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, Stokes only had to field as Three Lions crushed the visitors by 10 wickets. Following his team’s triumph against Ireland, the England Test skipper dismissed claims that he wasn’t physically fit to bowl.

Debutant Josh Tongue picked up his first Test wicket to bowl out the visitors for 362 runs in their second innings and set up a convincing win for England on Day 3 at Lord’s after England’s top-order crushed the Ireland bowling attack to lead the hosts to a huge total of 524/4 (declared) in response to Ireland’s first-innings total of 172 runs.

Andy McBrine (86) and Mark Adair (88) put up a brave stand of 163 runs, a record 7th wicket partnership in Tests for Ireland, after Tongue reduced Ireland to 63/3 in their second innings on Day 2 to enable the visitors to fight back. Their efforts, however, fell short as Ireland was dismissed for 362 runs, leaving England with just 12 runs to chase in the second innings.

Ben Stokes got injured on Day 3

During Ireland’s first innings, England pacer Stuart Broad was the show-stealer in charge with a five-wicket haul, while in the first innings of the hosts, double-centurion Ollie Pope and centurion Ben Duckett grabbed the spotlight with the bat. Duckett scored 182 runs off of just 178 balls, while on the other Pope slammed an astonishing 205 off just 208 deliveries. On the final day of the game, Tongue, stood out when he took his four wickets in the second innings.

However, England captain Stokes was the only player who did not have to do anything during the match. Stokes wasn’t in a hurry to turn his arms over as others did so since he had been declared fit to bowl. He was unable to make an impact with the bat as Pope and Duckett combined to score an incredible 387 runs.

On Day 3, during Ireland’s second innings, Stokes seemed to have injured his knee while taking a catch of Curtis Campher at short fine leg. As a result, his movement was limited on the pitch. The England captain said he damaged himself when he fell awkwardly on his knee while attempting the catch, but he believes he will be in excellent bowling condition for the first Test of the Ashes 2023 on June 16.

Here’s how fans reacted after coming across this:

Tmkc ek catch to pkda h bhadwe

— Shailesh (@104avginkos) June 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/43_49_53_allout/status/1665027835789209600

https://twitter.com/Shrey__123/status/1665029748299538432

Ben Stokes doing nothing since CSK bought him.

— djay (@djaywalebabu) June 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/_naveenish/status/1665026503233396744

That's not an achievement it's embarrassment

— Pushpa Gadi Ruluuuu (@Allu_BhaiFan) June 3, 2023

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner with 0 Kills.

— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) June 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/bdrijalab/status/1665029294890860544

Also Won IPL Without Playing

— Narendra Modi fan (@narendramodi177) June 3, 2023

He already Earned MILLIONS whill just sitting in the dugout

— Waqar Afridi (@WakaAfridi) June 3, 2023