• Zak Crawley stole the spotlight with a sensational boundary off the very first ball in Ashes 2023.

  • England captain Ben Stokes was left astonished by Crawley's shot.

Ashes 2023, WATCH: Zak Crawley’s first-ball four leaves Ben Stokes awestruck; Dinesh Karthik reacts
Ben Stokes was left astonished by Zal Crawley's shot (Screengrab: @Englandcricket)

The highly-anticipated Ashes series began with a bang as England and Australia clashed in the opening Test at Edgbaston. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first on a promising batting surface, setting the stage for an exciting battle. However, it was opener Zak Crawley who stole the spotlight with a sensational boundary off the very first ball, leaving both the crowd and Stokes in awe.

Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper, chose to lead his team’s bowling attack and started the proceedings for the touring party. The atmosphere at Edgbaston was electric, with the stadium packed full of English supporters.

Crawley wasted no time in making an impact as he welcomed the Australians with a display of power and skill. Cummins bowled the first ball wide outside the off-stump, presenting an opportunity for Crawley to seize. With impeccable timing and precision, the English batter unleashed a fierce shot, slashing the ball hard through extra cover, and sending it racing to the boundary for an emphatic four.

The crowd erupted in jubilation, recognizing the significance of Crawley’s boundary and the statement it made in the opening moments of the match. Even England captain Stokes, known for his own aggressive style of play, was left astonished by Crawley’s shot. Stokes’s reaction of amazement quickly went viral on the internet, capturing the awe-inspiring nature of the moment.

Here is the video:

Dinesh Karthik, the senior Indian cricketer, also joined in the chorus of appreciation. He took to social media and shared a collage photo of Crawley’s powerful shot and Stokes’s reaction. Karthik stated that Stokes’s reaction reflected the sentiments of everyone witnessing England’s batting, highlighting the impact of Crawley’s shot on players and fans alike.

“Stokes reaction will be all of us if England keep batting the way Zak Crawley has started Aussies have started with a deep point,” wrote Karthik on Twitter.

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.