Cricket, a sport where bat and ball danced to the delight of millions & known for its unpredictable twists and turns, there were moments that defied all logic and left spectators bewildered , has witnessed some truly bizarre wicket fallouts that have left spectators and players astounded. As fans eagerly anticipate the next game, they know that lurking within the boundaries is the possibility of witnessing something truly peculiar and captivating. In this article, we revisit the thirteen unexpected dismissals in cricket history .
13 most Weirdest & unexpected dismissals in cricket history
Unexpected dismissals 1- Catch Out of Andrew Symonds
On January 13, 2006, in a One-Day International match between Australia and Sri Lanka in Melbourne, Australian batsman Andrew Symonds was unfortunately dismissed. In the 40th over of the match, on the second ball bowled by Sri Lankan bowler Jehan Mubarak, Symonds attempted a draw shot, but the ball ended up hitting the leg of non-striking batsman Michael Clarke and was caught by fielder Dilshan at the non-striker’s end. Since the ball did not touch the ground, Andrew Symonds was dismissed due to the unintentional assistance of his teammate.
Unexpected dismissals 2- Bold Out of Junaid Siddique
On February 18, 2010, in a Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand held in Hamilton, Bangladeshi batsman Junaid Siddique was unfortunately dismissed. On the fourth day of the match, in Bangladesh’s second innings, New Zealand bowler Chris Martin achieved a rare feat by getting Siddique out with a bouncing delivery. The ball hit the upper part of Siddique’s hand, then rose and struck the top of his head. The batsman thought the ball might go behind the wicket, but fate had other plans as the ball hit the stumps directly. Thus, Junaid Siddique was dismissed in an unfortunate bold out by the bouncing delivery.
Unexpected dismissals 3- Stumping Out of Ravi Bopara
During an international one-day cricket match between England and Australia in Adelaide on January 26, 2014, English batsman Ravi Bopara faced an unfortunate dismissal. In the 49th over of England’s innings, bowled by Clint McKay, Bopara attempted a shot but missed the ball. The wicketkeeper, Matthew Wade, also failed to catch the ball, but it hit the stumps, resulting in a stumping. Despite having his foot inside the crease, Bopara was given out because the ball hit the stumps while his feet were in the air. This dismissal led to England’s loss in the match by just 3 runs.
Unexpected dismissals 4- Mohammad Hafeez’s Obstructing the field Out
In a Pakistan vs. South Africa One-Day match in Durban on March 21, 2013, batsman Mohammad Hafeez was unfortunately dismissed for obstructing the field. While taking a quick single, Hafeez’s bat got stuck behind him, leading to his run-out as the wicketkeeper threw the ball. The umpire ruled him out as per the new cricket rules.
Unexpected dismissals 5- Jason Roy’s Obstructing the field Out
In a T20 match between England and South Africa in Taunton on June 23, 2017, Jason Roy was unfortunately dismissed for obstructing the field. While attempting to change ends, Roy was sent back by Livingstone after seeing Morris, the fielder, with the ball. Unable to reach the non-striking end, the South African players appealed for obstructing the field. Initially ignored, the TV umpire reviewed the replay and ruled out Jason Roy.
Unexpected dismissals 6- Inzamam-ul-Haq’s Obstructing the field Out
During a Pakistan vs. India One-Day match in Peshawar on February 6, 2006, Inzamam-ul-Haq was unfortunately dismissed for obstructing the field. In the 44th over, Inzamam deflected the ball played by Sreesanth and saw Suresh Raina pick it up. Inzamam decided to stay back, but when he turned around, Raina threw the ball towards the wicket, hitting the batsman’s bat, and Sreesanth caught it. Despite Inzamam’s attempt to avoid the ball, the Indian team appealed for obstructing the field, and the umpire ruled him out.
Unexpected dismissals 7- Anwar Ali’s Obstructing the field out
During a Pakistan vs. South Africa One Day International match in Port Elizabeth on November 27, 2013, Anwar Ali was unfortunately dismissed. In the 45th over, while trying to change ends quickly, Anwar Ali was caught by Dale Steyn. The throw from fielder D’ Kock hit the stumps, resulting in Anwar Ali being run out for obstructing the field. The umpire ruled him out as he obstructed the ball while running through the pitch.
Unexpected dismissals 8- Ben Stokes’s Obstructing the field out
In a one-day match between England and Australia at Lord’s on September 5, 2015, Ben Stokes was unfortunately dismissed. While batting for England, Stokes was caught by Michael Starc on the 4th ball of the 26th over. The ball deflected towards the wicket, and Stokes, trying to save his wicket, used his hand to hit the ball, resulting in him being run out for obstructing the field. Initially, the on-field umpire did not give him out, but the TV replay revealed his intentional action, and the TV umpire declared him out for obstructing the field, despite Stokes claiming it to be unintentional.
Unexpected dismissals 9- Mohinder Amarnath’s handle the ball out
On February 9, 1986, in an India vs. Australia one-day match in Melbourne, Mohinder Amarnath was unfortunately dismissed. With the team’s score at 70 runs, Amarnath was given out handled the ball as he touched the ball with his hand while it was heading towards the stumps. He attempted to deflect the ball away to avoid a dismissal. The Australian players appealed, and the umpire ruled him out. Amarnath became the first batsman to be dismissed handled the ball in One Day International cricket.
Unexpected dismissals 10- Daryll Cullinan’s handle the ball out
On January 27, 1999, in a South Africa vs. West Indies one-day match in Durban, Daryll Cullinan was unfortunately dismissed. In South Africa’s innings, on the 4th ball of the 27th over, Cullinan was given out handled the ball. He hit the ball with his hand, caught it in the air, and held it before the fielder caught it. The West Indies team appealed, and the umpire ruled Cullinan out for handling the ball. With this dismissal, Cullinan became the second batsman in One Day International cricket to be given out handled the ball.
Unexpected dismissals 11- Chamu Chibhabha’s Handle the Ball Out
On October 20, 2015, during an international match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Bulawayo, Zimbabwean batsman Chamu Chibhabha was given out for handling the ball. In the 10th over of Zimbabwe’s innings, Chibhabha handled the ball and was declared out. When Afghan bowler Amir Hamza delivered the ball, Chibhabha tried to defend it with his hand, but the ball went up in the air and he caught it with his hand. The Afghan team appealed for the dismissal, and umpire declared him out for handling the ball.
Unexpected dismissals 12- Steve Waugh’s Handle the Ball Out
On March 19, 2001, during a Test match between Australia and India in Chennai, Australia’s batsman Steve Waugh was given out for handling the ball. In Australia’s first innings on the second day, with the team’s total at 340, Waugh handled the ball and was dismissed at 47 runs. When Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh delivered the ball, Waugh tried to defend it but missed, and the ball hit his leg and went up in the air. Waugh caught it with his hand. Initially, the Indian team appealed for an LBW decision, but later they appealed for handling the ball. Umpire Steve Bucknor declared him out for handling the ball instead of giving an LBW decision.
Unexpected dismissals 13- Graham Gooch’s Handle the Ball Out
On June 7, 1993, during a Test match between England and Australia in Manchester, English batsman Graham Gooch was given out for handling the ball. On the last day of the match, during England’s second innings, with the team’s total at 223 runs, Gooch handled the ball and was dismissed at 133 runs. When Australian bowler Merv Hughes delivered the ball, Gooch tried to defend it but realized the ball was heading towards the wicket. He intentionally moved his hand away to avoid hitting the stumps. The Australian team appealed for the dismissal, and the umpire declared Gooch out.
These unlucky thirteen weirdest instances in the history of the game when the wickets fell in the most unexpected and peculiar ways remind us that cricket, at its heart, is a game of surprises. While skill and strategy dominate the field, it is the unexpected occurrences that capture our imagination and keep us coming back for more. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the next match, the anticipation for witnessing another strange and remarkable dismissal remains high.
