Left-handed batsman Fawad Alam and his unorthodox batting stance were back in red-ball cricket on the opening day of the second Test match between England and Pakistan at The Rose Bowl in Southampton.
And needless to say, cricket fanatics were not ready for what they saw.
Fawad was picked for his first Test in 11 years on Thursday as Pakistan included him in the playing XI at the expense of all-rounder Shadab Khan.
Coming in at No.6 with his side reeling at 117-4, Fawad stunned fans and commentators with an utterly open batting stance.
In shades of West Indies’ veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fawad was facing front-on to the bowler as he waited for the ball, before turning side-on when it was delivered.
Unfortunately, Fawad’s stay at the crease only lasted for four balls, but not before the fans took to Twitter to take a hilariously dig at his unique stance.
Facing Chris Woakes, Fawad blocked the first ball, left the next, played and missed the third, and was given out lbw on the fourth delivery.
Here’s how Twitterati trolled Fawad:
Fawad Alam. Probably the weirdest batting stance in cricket of all time. Even weirder than Chanderpaul
— Xi Simping (@micky864) August 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/Ankitaker2/status/1293995409656832000
Chance pe Stance …!
Fawad Alam #ENGvsPAK pic.twitter.com/AYgCDhc94e
— Khushamtweet! (@XitijNanavaty) August 13, 2020
Special talent to get lbw out with this stance. #fawad alam
— Dr jitendra (@WOUNDEDHEALAR) August 13, 2020
Quite amazed that Fawad Alam is out lbw when this is his batting stance. pic.twitter.com/o2ewxBG4z8
— Jack Faulkner (@jackfaulkner) August 13, 2020
Fawad Alam’s stance is just like Shivarine Chanderpaul’s and he wasn’t bad to be fair #bbccricket
— TradeStation (@Trade5tation) August 13, 2020
Fawad Alam what are you doing with that stance pic.twitter.com/cwlgAJZO4h
— London Baggies (@LondonBaggies) August 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/Abiidism/status/1293944723044880384
Has Fawid Alam been taking batting practice from Red Sox legend David Ortiz? Big Papi's stance looks more suited to cricket! #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/YUoEdd5sIN
— David Beckett (@iamdavidbeckett) August 13, 2020
English bowlers looking at fawad Alam's batting stance 🙄 pic.twitter.com/vzFaZygrWR
— Granger❤️ (@muski_sm) August 13, 2020
Fawid Alam’s stance reminds me of when Smart car owners park the other way round #BBCCRICKET pic.twitter.com/xHvEbJE432
— Jack Sears (@Jacks_ears) August 13, 2020