Pacer Chris Woakes found himself in an unusual situation during the third Test at The Oval when bad light conditions forced him to switch from his usual fast bowling to offspin. This unexpected change caught everyone off guard, triggering a wave of reactions both on and off the field. The sight of Woakes, typically known for his pace and swing, attempting to bowl spin became an instant source of amusement, and the reactions quickly went viral.
Among those who found the moment particularly hilarious was former England skipper Joe Root. Known for his steady presence on the field, Root couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his teammate trying his hand at a skill that wasn’t his forte. But the humour didn’t stop there.
In the players’ balcony, injured Test captain Ben Stokes was captured looking utterly shocked, struggling to believe what he was witnessing. The sight of one of England’s frontline pacers resorting to spin was simply too much for him to process. However, the most memorable reaction came from the commentary box.
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Former England captain and well-known commentator Nasser Hussain nearly tumbled off his chair in disbelief when he saw Woakes’ new bowling avatar. His colleague, Michael Atherton, who was also on air, couldn’t resist sharing the moment with viewers, humorously stating, “In the commentary box, Nasser almost fell off his chair. The effect of Chris Woakes’ off-spin.”
Here is the viral video of Nasser Hussain going down:
😭😭😭 https://t.co/vWryrfh8Co pic.twitter.com/klIOj1BuBW
— Westen (@Wessy_x) September 7, 2024
Although Hussain’s near fall wasn’t actually related to Woakes’ bowling, Atherton’s playful commentary added to the comic atmosphere. As for the game itself, England wrapped up their first innings with a solid total of 325 runs, thanks to stand-in skipper Ollie Pope’s brilliant century.
Ollie Pope’s knock of 154 off 156 balls helped England set a strong foundation, especially after he had faced criticism for his lack of form since taking on the leadership role in Ben Stokes’ absence. Despite the light-hearted moments, England maintained their dominance in the series. After two convincing wins in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, they continued to apply pressure in this match as well.
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Sri Lanka was bowled out for 263 in their first innings, giving England a 97-run lead. However, the hosts faced a couple of early setbacks in their second innings, with both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope falling cheaply. As the day progressed, England found themselves at 35/2, still holding the upper hand as they aimed to wrap up the series with another win.
