Ben Foakes in embarrassing moment as England humbled in first India cricket Test
The England wicketkeeper was all at sea during play against India.
England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has produced a bizarre moment against India having run over the set of stumps to leave the players looking on in bewilderment in Hyderabad. England's 'BazBall' approach came up short against the prolific spin combinations of India in the first Test.
Other than a Ben Stokes fightback, England were put into a spin with both Ravi Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel taking eight wickets between them to dismiss the visitors for 246. England thought the total could be competitive, but Yashasvi Jaiwswal made a mockery of the pitch leaving India 1-119 at stumps on day one.
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And while there wasn't much joy for England in the afternoon session, fans were afforded a laugh due to Foakes' bizarre gaffe. India were 0-20 at the beginning of the innings when the outfielder threw the ball back into Foakes from the boundary.
The single was complete with play coming to a halt, but Foakes opted to chase down the wayward throw without looking at his path. And upon catching the ball, Foakes ran over and uprooted all the stumps at the batter's end.
He then fell into a heap as Rohit Sharma looked over in disbelief at Foakes' bizarre stumble. The cricket world was in disbelief because the focus should have been on Mark Wood's delivery, which was recorded at 150.1 km/h. Although the fans were firmly focused on Foakes with cricket great AB de Villiers having a chuckle at the wicketkeeper's 'rugby tackle' on the stumps.
Ben Foakes😂😂😂that was hilarious. Proper Rugby tackle on the stumps
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 25, 2024
Ben Foakes was looking up at the plane 😂😂😂
Are you okie keeper.. 🤣🤷♂️#INDvsENG #ModisGaurnteeFail pic.twitter.com/mAsGyGY9yu— Zee__ (@rc5204c67) January 25, 2024
Mark Wood touched 150.1kmph.
Ben Foakes meanwhile cleans up all the 3 stumps. pic.twitter.com/aWtCN0pFyV— Amar Singh 🇮🇳 (@AmarSinghAS_) January 26, 2024
Honestly, if you’d asked me before the innings began whether Ben Foakes would simply sprint straight through the stumps, I would have said ‘no, no he won’t’. Would have been pretty adamant about it, too. Because I lack the necessary cricket imagination. #INDvENG
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) January 25, 2024
England put into a spin against India on day one
The only downside in India's day was the loss of captain Sharma's wicket for 24, but the home side will still be hoping to grab a huge first innings lead on day two. And allrounder Patel claimed the pitch wasn't as devious as it has previously been in Hyderabad, which saw Australia spun out early last year.
"I think we did a great job of restricting them on such a good track," Patel said. "It's only the odd ball, which is spinning - and it's not spinning a lot either. It's a slow pitch. Our goal will be to bat normally and bat long."
England are certainly not the first team to struggle against India away from home, but are still the last team to triumph in India having won the 2012 series under Alastair Cook. India have since destroyed their opponents having only lost three of their last 44 matches at home. Australia's victory last year contributed to one of the three losses.
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