5 most unusual instances of trouble in a cricket match

Extreme weather conditions, sudden news of demise, a furious crowd, on-field player-spats, and very often, intruders in the form of animals, all of these, at some point of time, have been a reason for a halt in a cricket match, sometimes abandonment too.

Recently, there have been quite a few unusual instances during a cricket match. The opening ODI between New Zealand and India at Napier is the latest addition to an interesting list.

Chasing 158, India's pursuit was halted because of the sun. Due to the east-west alignment of the McLean Park, rays from the setting sun pierced directly into the players' eyes. Citing player safety, the umpires decided to take them off the field. After quite a while, play eventually resumed with the innings reduced to 49 overs.

There was also a strange incident from the Dhaka Premier League. The league, however, deservedly found a place in the bad books of cricket for an incident that occurred in the 16th over of the clash between Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club and Abahani Limited.

There was a massive appeal to dismiss Raqibul Hasan who was given not out by umpire Sohel on a delivery from Saqlain Sajib. When the appeal was turned down, the Abahani players along with their captain Tamim Iqbal and the crowd in the stands, started to protest the decision that they felt was biased.

The umpires were treated to abuses from the fans which saw them leaving the field after consulting Montu Dutta, the match referee.

This immoral incident has been preceded by many more in the history of the game. Sometimes, the field needed a beekeeper instead of a wicketkeeper. At other times, batsmen were seen giving way to the firemen. Read on to find out more.

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The bee-attack

While play has been halted by midges, wasps and flying ants in the past, the most disturbing of all pests are inarguably the bees. And a state level match from 1981 can prove to you how something that looks so insignificant cannot just halt but abandon a cricket match.

A cricket match in Bangalore was called off after hundreds of bees, troubled by children pelting stones, thronged across the field in retaliation. Six players, along with the umpire, had to be given hospital treatment.

History repeated itself in the England-Sri Lanka Test match in December 2007. Swarms of bees were seen flying across the field at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. The umpire, who seemed experienced with bee-attack, lay down on the floor to avoid the bees, and the players replicated his example. The play was suspended until the match could be resumed.

Death

Of a King

India was playing England in 1951-52 at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai and the visitors were leading the test series 1-0. On day one, they scored 224 for 5. By the time the play for the day ended, the news of King George passing away of coronary thrombosis reached Madras. Day 2 was thus declared as a rest day to mourn the demise of the king. This test is also remembered as India’s first test win.

Of A Prime Minister

This was India’s tour of Pakistan in 1984. The ODI at Sialkot was important for Mohinder Amarnath, for whom this was the first(and only) match as a captain. The tour was called off due to the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

Of A Cricketer

The second day’s game of the Sharjah Test between New Zealand and Pakistan was called off due to the untimely demise of Phillip Hughes, but an extra day was added.

Animals

Of all animals, the dogs deserve a special mention on the list of intruders on a cricket pitch. Most of the instances of dog stopping play have happened in Sri Lanka and India. The most remembered of these matches is the Ashes Test of 1993 at Trent Bridge.

Just when Merv Hughes was delivering the ball to Mark Lathwell, a mongrel walked out to the ground. Merv Hughes got down on his knees to request the dog to leave. And much to the surprise of all, the dog agreed and was carried out by Michael Slater. Someone in the crowd immediately volunteered to adapt the mutt. They say that the dog is named Merv.

Wild Crowd

India vs Sri Lanka, Kolkata, 1996 – this night is remembered as one of the most shameful ones in Indian cricket for a riot sparked by the furious crowd at Eden Gardens in the World Cup Semi-final of 1996 when India were favorites to win their second World Cup title.

Sri Lanka scored 251 runs while the Indian batsmen, very humiliatingly, fell down to 120 for 8. The crowd had not expected such shame at home and furiously threw bottles on the field and set fire to the stands. The play was called off and Sri Lankans were awarded the winners by default.

The Desert Storm

Indians fondly remember this storm as the Sachin Storm. This was during the Coca-Cola Cup of 1998. The storm in the desert of UAE held up the play for about 15 minutes which led in the reduction of the Indian overs from 50 to 46.

Following this 15 minutes storm was another storm by Sachin Tendulkar in the form of a century that was made in the dust at a time when cricket bats were not very springy.

Animals, storms, bees, grieved notices, wild crowd, what’s next?