Cricket is a very interesting game, every now and then we witness cricketers achieving milestones and interesting feats in the cricket world. And as we are talking about interesting feats, the most thrilling bowling achievements come under surprising circumstances.
There have been many such interesting bowling performances and statistics, which are interesting because they were held not by ‘bowlers’ but by unlikely cricketers under surprising circumstances. Here, we bring you a list of 5 such incidents, have a look:
1. Sachin Tendulkar’s last over in semi-final against South Africa in 1993’s Hero Cup:
Sachin Tendulkar, who is regarded as one of the greatest Indian cricketers to have played for team India. Sachin has many records to his name but hardly any of his achievements are associated with his bowling skills. However, one of the most thrilling overs in the history of the Indian cricket team features none other than Master Blaster.
Well, during the last over for Team India in 1993’s Hero Cup final in the semi-final against South Africa, Mohammad Azharuddin gave the ball to Sachin Tendulkar to defend 5 runs in the last over in that match. It was a huge risk for team India and Sachin Tendulkar’s first over as well.
It turned out to be one of the most incredible overs for team India as the first ball yielded a run and a run-out leaving South Africa’s last-wicket pair of SoutBrian McMillan and Allan Donald at the crease. This was followed up with three dot balls. At the end of the over, all they could manage was a single and Sachin Tendulkar stole the show by bowling at one of the most thrilling death overs.
2. Lala Amarnath is the only cricketer to have taken the wicket of Donald Bradman:
Lala Amarnath, who was the first skipper of Independent India. It was during a Test at Brisbane in 1947, when Don Bradman was batting on 185 from 336 balls with 20 boundaries, Lala Amarnath became the first-ever bowler to have dismissed Don Bradman hit-wicket.
In an interview, when Lala Amarnath was asked about who the best batsman was in his opinion Amarnath said: “ … Don Bradman – even in 1947-48, he was still the greatest. In the innings he got his 100th century, he was shaky to start with, but eventually he was just the master.”
3. MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers became the first keepers to bowl at the same Test match:
This happened during the first Test of the 2013-14 series between India and South Africa, which was being played at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, when Hashim Amla took up the wicket-keeping gloves and AB de Villiers rolled his arm to bowl the last over before Tea on Day Three.
It was in the same test match when the current Indian skipper Virat Kohli took the gloves from MS Dhoni and the legendary keeper decided to bowl.
4. Wilf Barber became took a wicket with the second and last ball he ever bowled:
Wilf Barber, who has scored 16,402 runs in his career and took 182 catches, however, he is in this list because of a very interesting record in bowling. Well, Wilf appeared for England in only two Test matches, however, it was his debut test match against H. F. Wade’s South African team of 1935 at Leeds, he only bowled 2 balls conceded 0 runs and even picked up the wicket of HB Cameron.
5. Sanath Jayasuriya is the only cricketer with 300+ wickets and 12000+ runs in ODI :
Many years ago, when Sanath Jayasuriya made his debut, he was seen as a bowler who could merely bat, however, he went on to become one of the greatest all-rounders. He was given the title of the Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World in the year 1996.
He is the only opening batsman to have four five-wicket hauls under his belt with the best figures of 6/29 against England at Moratuwa in 1993.
