Ben Stokes had to battle waves of nausea after downing pickle juice to manage severe cramp on day two of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba.
The England captain, who played a pivotal role in slowing Australia’s scoring before the hosts edged into a lead, was visibly struggling after gulping the electrolyte-heavy drink in the evening session.
Stokes’ intervention had come at an important moment. Australia, replying to England’s 334, had built steadily through Jake Weatherald’s 72 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 65.
Stokes removed Labuschagne, then later dismissed Josh Inglis, giving England a foothold before fatigue set in.
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With cramp taking hold, he reached for pickle juice - a well-known quick remedy among athletes - but cameras caught him retching almost immediately after drinking it.
TNT Sports commentators responded with a mixture of amusement and sympathy as footage showed Stokes grimacing.
One remarked: “Judging by the reaction and what I read about it and how unpalatable it is, that is pickle juice.
Ben Stokes reacting to the pickle juice treatment for his cramp 😂 🥴
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"Deary me, you’ve got to keep it down.”
Another added: “That is rank… everyone knows that feeling when you have something like that, but you’ve got to do it.”
Despite England’s breakthroughs, Australia continued to accumulate through Alex Carey and Michael Neser, capitalising on a series of missed chances that defined the visitors’ evening.
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Ben Stokes looked visibly disgusted during England's Ashes Test against Australia
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Neser twice survived in quick succession - first via an unsuccessful lbw review from Stokes, then when Brydon Carse put down a routine catch in the covers.
Earlier errors from Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett had already set the tone for a frustrating day in the field.
England’s struggles then deepened when Joe Root, the hero of day one with his long-awaited Ashes century in Australia, spilled a slip chance that allowed Carey to add four more runs.
Those mistakes contributed significantly to Australia edging past England’s total, ending the day 378 for 6 and in control heading into day three.
Root, reflecting on another difficult pink-ball evening in Brisbane, insisted England were far from out of the contest.
“We have obviously some work to do tomorrow but we are still in this game,” he said.
Steve Smith hit a half-century for Australia while wearing black tape on his face as the hosts fought back against England
| GETTY“If we get things right in the morning, apply ourselves in the correct fashion in the way we go about things as a team, then we can get ourselves in a strong position on a wicket that looks like it might have a few cracks to work with later on.”
Root also acknowledged that England’s fielding had fallen short but urged calm.
“It’s difficult with a pink ball compared to a white ball. It is slightly different," he added.
"Unfortunately it’s one of those days when they didn’t quite stick to hand. We just have to make sure we stay confident and when those chances come."