Strange run outs at Eden and in India vs England

Kolkata, Dec 7 (IANS) England skipper Alastair Cook’s bizarre run out the Eden Gardens during the third Test match against India Friday is not the first instance of such a strange dismissal either involving the hallowed stadium or an India-England Test match.

After being declined a run by his partner, Cook was retreating to his ground as Virat Kohli’s throw came in from square leg. He was reaching for his ground but stopped just before grounding his bat and took evasive action to avoid the ball.

The ball sailed through and shattered the stumps with the batsman short of his ground. The Indians appealed and umpire Rod Tucker took advice from the TV official before deciding the England skipper had to go.

Cook, who scored 190, was run out for the first time in his 151st Test innings.

Kolkata’s Eden had witnessed a similar run out which was more controversial than strange.

It happened during an India-Pakistan Test match in the inaugural Asian test Championship in 1999. Indian batting master Sachin Tendulkar, attempting a third run collided with Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, when the throw from the deep hit the stumps with the batsman short of his ground.

The decision was referred to the third umpire who adjudged him out.

Tendulkar’s strange dismissal triggered a massive Eden crowd to agitate as they criticised the Pakistan players for not showing sportsman spirit and accused them of “cheating”.

The crowd which had grown berserk was evicted and the match was conducted in an empty stadium. Pakistan eventually won by 46 runs.

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram faced criticism from all quarters for hurting the spirit of cricket after his failure to call back Tendulkar.

The second instance of such a strange run out involved India and England during the fourth day of the second Test at Trent Bridge in which the visitors were beaten by 319 runs. The match is, however, remembered for the sporting spirit shown by Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni who called back English batsman Ian Bell who was run out controversially.

Believing a shot hit by fellow batter Eoin Morgan had touched the boundary, Bell started to walk for the pavilion as it was the last ball before tea.

But the ball was fielded short of the boundary and when thrown back to the stumps, Indian fielder Abhinav Mukund dislodged the bails and appealed for a run out.

Following a referral, Bell was adjudged out as the ball was still in play because it was fielded inches short of the boundary. Bell reportedly had claimed that he heard the umpire calling for over.

The English crowd jeered the umpires and the Indian team only to be surprised later seeing Bell coming back to bat.

The Indian team had withdrawn the appeal and Bell went on to score 22 more runs before being dismissed for 159.

England eventually won the match by 319 runs.

IANS 2012-12-07 21:52:11