Australia stumbled early, losing two wickets with just 61 runs on the board. However, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith united forces, forming a crucial partnership of 59 runs for the third wicket, aiming to stabilize their team’s innings.
Just when it seemed like Australia was gaining momentum, Mark Wood had other plans. In the 30th over of the match, Wood strategically bowled a delivery wide of the crease, angling it into the middle, catching Smith off guard. The Australian batter, in a defensive stance, was unable to evade the fast-paced delivery. The ball whizzed past the inside edge, striking Smith’s pad with force.
Interestingly, the on-field umpire remained unconvinced by the fielding team’s appeal, deeming Smith not out. However, Ben Stokes, known for his sharp cricketing instincts, decided to challenge the decision by calling for a review without hesitation.
The decision paid off handsomely for England when the big screen displayed three reds, indicating that the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. The highly regarded Smith, who boasted an impressive average of over 100 at the Old Trafford venue, was forced to make his way back to the pavilion.
Here is the video:
Steve Smith… GONE!
Mark Wood strikes after lunch and it's a big one!#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/4KGeJdrXec
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023
Notably, no team has won after electing to bowl first at Old Trafford and Stokes was quizzed about this during the toss. The England captain, however, had no issues with that as he said: “We’re going to bowl. Will be a nice time for us to do that. The clarity helps, we had the same mindset in the last game.”
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