5 instances when a non-member had to turn out for a team

While the norm in cricket is for a player injured during the match to be replaced by a member of his own side’s squad, there have been occasions when, due to lack of resources, a non-member has had to turn out in the field.At times, members of the team’s support staff have been spotted fielding in a game and in some cases, even players from the opposition team. There are also a few instances of these non-member substitutes making a positive or negative impact in the field of play.Let’s take a look at 5 times when a non-member played substitute for a team:

#5 The masseur goes fielding for Australia

Australian cricket team masseur Grant Baldwin fielded in the first day and night Test

The most recent instance of a non-member fielding for a team came when the masseur of the Australian cricket team, Grant Baldwin, was forced to take the field. This happened during the first ever day and night Test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide.

Mitchell Starc got injured and went off the field and the Aussies decided to send the masseur in as a substitute fielder. However, the move did not work too well as poor Baldwin failed to make a routine stop which cost his team three runs.

#4 Physio Adrian Le Roux forced to show his fielding skills

South African physio Adrian Le Roux was forced to take the field once

The South African team faced a lot of injury troubles on their 2005-06 Tour to Australia. During one of the tour games at Perth, spinner Nicky Boje was forced to leave the field due to an injury to his hand. Considering the fact that there were already other injuries in the squad, the Proteas were prompted to send out their physio Adrian Le Roux to substitute for Boje on the field. It was not a memorable outing for poor Le Roux as he managed to spill a catch offered by the opposition skipper Justin Langer.

#3 Mandeep Singh responds to a desperate situation

Mandeep Singh fielded for South Africa’s A team in a match

A recent tri-series between A teams from India, South Africa and Pakistan saw India A player Mandeep Singh take the field for the rival team, South Africa A. It was a desperate situation for the South Africans as many of their players were down sick and they were falling short of fielders.

The India A team decided to help them out and Mandeep was sent out to do fielding duties for the Proteas A side and he sported their outfit too. Interestingly enough, even the video analyst for the South Africans, Henrikus Coertzen, took the field in this match.

#2 Billy Murdoch helps dismiss his own teammate

Billy Murdoch took the first ever catch by a substitute

One of Australia’s earliest captains, Billy Murdoch, once substituted for opponent team England in a Test match and even picked up a catch for them. Murdoch was the skipper of the Australian team which toured England in the year 1884. In the second Test, one of the English players was injured during the Aussie 1^st innings and Billy came on as substitute fielder.

His teammate Tup Scott was batting on 75 when he was dismissed courtesy of a catch taken by his own captain. It was the first catch taken by a substitute in Test cricket, but unfortunately for Billy Murdoch, it was against his own team.

#1 A young Indian boy named Sachin fields for Pakistan

Tendulkar fielded for Pakistan as a 13-year old

As a 13-year old boy, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar has once taken the field for a touring Pakistan side. It was a 40-overs-a-side exhibition match between India and Pakistan to commemorate the golden jubilee year of the Cricket Club of India.

Pakistan skipper Imran Khan requested for a few substitutes as they were falling short of players to field. CCI captain Hemant Kenkre provided him with the services of Sachin and another youngster. The future master was on the field for 25 minutes towards the end of the game.

No one could have imagined then that this little boy would become one of the best ever cricketers down the line.