Good job I didn't take my pants off! - Stokes reflects on 'bizarre' no-ball reprieve

St Lucia, February 10: Ben Stokes was glad he had not been hasty to undress in the England changing room after he was called back to the middle on day one of the third Test against West Indies.

The all-rounder thought his innings had come to an end on 52 when Alzarri Joseph pulled of an excellent return catch, only for replays to show the bowler had over-stepped.

A no-ball was belatedly called, by which time Stokes was back in the dressing room with Jonny Bairstow on his way out to join Jos Buttler.

The pair quickly exchanged places and Stokes returned to the fray, extending his fifth-wicket stand with Buttler (67 not out) to 124 as England reached stumps in St Lucia on 231-4.

Brilliant partnership from @josbuttler and @benstokes38 to turn the day around! 👏

Scorecard: https://t.co/lIP80q7Jx6#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/YifeyJmtqV

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) 9 February 2019

"It's a good job I didn't take my pants off!" Stokes, who was unbeaten on 62 at the close, told Sky Sports.

"It was a bizarre bit of cricket all round. I tried to get myself back into the same frame of mind as when me and Jos were going out there.

"There was a lot of cheering, I had to blank that out and start again."

Stokes revealed how watching recordings of previous innings helped him rediscover his form after scores of 0, 34, 14 and 11 in the series.

"I looked at some footage from when I played at Lord's and was thinking about going back to that technique," Stokes said.

"I've straightened my feet up and am batting on off stump. I took confidence from that, it was in the back of my mind knowing that this technique had worked for me and that gave me confidence."