5 most bizarre run outs in international cricket

We’ve often heard the phrase “Cricket is a funny game” and one of the main reasons for that is the sport never fails to surprise us. Every day, every game and every innings, it produces special things. However, sometimes things tend to get bizarre as well. There are some very strange and unusual moments on the field that catches the attention of everybody.

Run outs often become a talking point during the game (if they take place). But there have been a few that never seem to be forgotten and these are generally strange or bizarre ones.

Hence, here let’s take a look at some of the most bizarre runouts in international cricket.

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#5 Virender Sehwag vs Sri Lanka, February 2007 (Visakhapatnam)

Virender Sehwag was one of the most free-flowing openers during his time. He gave India brisk starts irrespective of the format. However, he was also a tad careless about his running between the wickets. He was often criticised by experts for his casual running and one such casual moment resulted in his run out.

In the final ODI of a four-match series against Sri Lanka at home, India opted to field first in the series decider. A disciplined bowling effort kept the Sri Lankans down to 259. In reply, India were off to a flying start. After Sourav Ganguly retired hurt in the very first over, Robin Uthappa and Sehwag went all guns blazing as the duo added 86 runs in under 12 overs. Uthappa fell after his fifty while Dinesh Karthik didn’t last long as he scored just one.

Sehwag was batting well on 46 and was looking good for a big score. However, a bizarre run out brought an end to his innings. The Delhi opener cut a short and wide delivery to third-man. He jogged the most part of the run before casually walking towards the crease in the last stretch. While he was walking, the throw came in from third man and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara spotted Sehwag and hurled the ball at the stumps at the non-strikers end to catch the latter short of his crease.

#4 Mohammad Amir vs West Indies, November 2016 (Sharjah)

In November 2016, Pakistan had already won the series but West Indies didn’t go down without a fight. They battled hard and emerged victorious in the third Test as they ended the three-Test series on a high.

In what was a fascinating third Test, there was a moment of madness in Pakistan’s second innings. Pakistan had scored 281 in their first innings before the Windies took a handy 56-run lead. In the second innings, Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble and were staring down the barrel.

Already eight down, Pakistan were trying to get as many as possible in the second innings. Mohammad Amir tried to clear long-on, where Roston Chase put in a magnificent effort to save the six. He took an excellent running catch and as he was landing down, he realised he was going to touch the rope and hence, he pushed the ball back into play. Amir assumed that would go for six and had started walking towards his partner, Wahab Riaz.

But when he saw the ball back in play, he realised he could be in trouble and hence, he ran back, but was caught short at the non-striker’s end as Chase fired in a good throw from the deep. It was a comical run out in the end, as Amir, who was admiring the shot, suddenly found himself short.

#3 Misbah-ul-Haq vs India, November 2007 (Delhi)

It was in 2007 that India and Pakistan last faced off in a Test series, and it was an action-packed one. India took the series 1-0 as they won the first Test before the other two Test matches were drawn.

The first Test had a very bizarre run out of Misbah-ul-Haq. The Indian bowlers had done a terrific job as they kept the Pakistani batsmen in check. Barring Misbah, no other batsman went past the 30-run mark. The Mianwali-born batsman had carried the team on the first day, and hoped to add vital runs with the lower order on the second day as well.

However, early on Day two, Misbah went for a quick single as he tapped a Sourav Ganguly delivery towards point. Dinesh Karthik attacked the ball and had a shy at the non-striker’s end. Misbah had made it but was ball watching. As the throw came in, he jumped with his bat in the air which resulted in the ball hitting the stumps. Misbah, on 82, was run out in one of the most unusual ways as he tried to evade the throw.

#2 Alastair Cook vs India, December 2012 (Kolkata)

The 2012 Test series in India was a memorable one for Alastair Cook, both as player and as captain. Cook’s England stunned India in the four-match Test series and registered their first Test series win on Indian soil for 28 years.

Cook might’ve made tons and tons of runs in that series but he was run out in one of the most bizarre ways in the third Test. After keeping India to 316 in the first innings, England were in the box seat at 359/2. Cook had scored his third hundred of the series and was batting on 190.

In the 127th over of the match, Kevin Pietersen whipped one off his pads to square leg where Virat Kohli fielded the ball cleanly. Cook had backed up a little which prompted Kohli to have a shy at the stumps. As the throw came in, Cook tried to evade the throw and, in the process, moved away without reaching the crease. The ball hit the stumps and Cook was runout.

The then England captain looked distraught. He had missed out on a well-deserved double ton.

#1 Azhar Ali vs Australia, October 2018 (Abu Dhabi)

Australia fought really hard and managed to save the first Test in Dubai despite being behind for the most part of the game. However, they started well in the second Test, but soon squandered the advantage.

Pakistan were once again in the driver’s seat and were piling the misery on the Aussies. Azhar Ali, who hadn’t had the best of times in the series, scored a much-needed half-century in the second innings. He was looking good but a brain freeze brought an end to his innings.

Azhar Ali got a thick edge off a Peter Siddle delivery past the gully fielder who got a hand to it. The ball stopped inches before the boundary rope. However, the two batsmen, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, assumed the ball had reached the fence and it was a boundary. Mitchell Starc ran across and hurled the ball back to Tim Paine, who took the bails off to complete the run out.

Azhar Ali stood there in disbelief as a naïve and a very casual mistake cost him dearly.

Is this the greatest run out of all time?#PAKvAUS #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/YQqct960Ui

— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FoxCricket) October 18, 2018