Ashes 2023: Ben Stokes employs peculiar field placement after Stuart Broad's twin strikes

Ben Stokes' England started the second day of the Ashes on the front foot after veteran pacer Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne on consecutive deliveries. Labuschagne's wicket brought in Steve Smith to the crease, who was greeted with a peculiar field setting from Stokes. 

With Stuart Broad on a hat-trick, Stokes added a few extra close-in fielders. As Broad initiated his delivery stride, four fielders occupied the slip cordon along with two leg slips and a fielder at short mid-on. However, Smith negotiated the hat-trick ball without much fuss, leaving alone a leg-lined delivery.

Four slips and two leg-slips for Steve Smith

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Senior Aussie opener David Warner was the first wicket to fall on the day after he played a rash shot against his nemesis Stuart Broad. His dismissal meant that the English pacer had dismissed him for the 15th time in Tests. While Warner's struggles continued against Broad, Marnus Labuschagne's tentative drive on the very next delivery saw him depart for a golden duck. 

Stokes tries his luck against a stubborn batting pair

Broad's twin strikes sent a full-house crowd at Edgbaston into a frenzy as batting maestro Steve Smith walked into the middle. Smith, who is renowned for his unorthodox batting technique saw the opposition skipper set a unique field after his arrival. Stokes tried to apply the pressure of the stubborn batter by employing two leg slips, a rare sight in any form of cricket, let alone in Tests. 

Australia were in a spot of bother after losing two of their star batters on consecutive deliveries. However, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja blunted the English attack and steadied the ship with a solid partnership for the third wicket. Stokes threw another curveball to the Aussie batters after throwing the ball to Harry Brook for an over of gentle medium pace.