Cricket is a great game. It’s a sport that has become second nature to most around the world especially where it comes to the die hard fans. But beyond the scope of runs scored and wickets taken, it’s also a funny sport.
Cricket has from time to time produced moments that very organically have left many in splits reminding us again of the fact that it is humor and fun that we must all savour.
Here are some of the top ranked funny cricket moments.
Ishant Sharma mimicking Steve Smith
Back in 2017, Australia came to India for a 4-Test match series, which was eventually won by India 2-0. But in the opening game of the series, held at Pune, Ishant Sharma, then India’s frontline fast bowler had an interesting incident with then Australian captain Steve Smith. The right hander with a penchant for leaving deliveries in his own rather weird way also completed the deliveries he let go with a wacky facial expression, something that the right arm fast bowler copied in his uncanny inimitable style.
So funny was Sharma that even Smith ended up smiling at the lanky pacer’s imitation, a tactic deployed to unsettle the great batsman at the middle.
Michael Clarke sending one right at Watson’s knee
During the course of his long and impressive career, Watson nursed many an injury including one that almost didn’t happen or in other words, his then captain Michael Clarke nearly succeeded in handing the big man “Watto”.
In an important one day contest against the Aussies, Sri Lanka, batting first in a rain-curtailed 45-over game were going well at 2-180 in 37 overs when Watson came in to bowl. An inside edge off Sanga went to the keeper who collected it and took at shy at the non-striker’s end. The ball missed and was collected by Clarke who not that far from the bowler’s end took an aim for the wickets with the non-striker, Tharanga out of the crease.
Except the ball didn’t land at the stumps and went straight at Watson’s knee; the all rounder was somehow right in the way of the stumps with Clarke completely dumbfounded. Must have been a costly error.
Andre Russell the non-striker and a hat trick ball
During an important contest of the IPL in 2023, Delhi Capitals’ Kuldeep Yadav was about to bowl a hat-trick ball with Andre Russell of KKR at the non striker’s end. And with many wickets having already fallen, with KKR batting first, a hat trick for Kuldeep would’ve spelt further misery for Kolkata. Except just when Kuldeep came into bowl, Andre Russell, instead of looking ahead at the batter was taking guard and practicing at the non-striker’s end as if lost in his own world. While the entire cricketing action was focused on the 22 yards, the West Indian was lost in his own zone, cutting a funny image as if two parallel contests were on simultaneously.
Chris Gayle in the 2019 World Cup clash vs England
During the 2019 men’s odi World Cup game against hosts England, West Indian campaign Jason Holder came into bowl at the great Joe Root who pushed one to cover region. Patrolling the region was none other than Chris Gayle who made the slightest or barest of drives to stop a single but in full appreciation of the cheering crowds went on the grass, raised both his hands as if to celebrate a full length diving catch when there was none. He was merely soaking in the mood and the electric environment and still made everyone laugh as hard as one could.
Colin Miller and his Blue hair bowling to Courtney Walsh
In the 2000’s there took place a test match at SCG with Australia’s then spinner Colin Miller readying to bowl at the legendary Courtney Walsh. All was fine and normal service was underway. Except it wasn’t! Suddenly right after being ready and set to face the spinner, Walsh couldn’t control his focus and burst into laughter. The reason? Miller’s blue streak. Walsh found it so funny that he simply couldn’t bat. That led to the entire crowd joining the Windies legend for a laugh.
