Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: There have been several funny run-outs in cricket history, where miscommunication, bizarre events, or pure bad luck led to some unforgettable moments. These run-outs show that even in a professional sport, moments of confusion and misjudgment can lead to hilarious results.
During India’s tour to Bangladesh in December 2004, India greats Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble were involved in a funny incident while running between the wickets during 1st Test in Dhaka.
On the second ball of the 100th over of the Indian innings, Sachin Tendulkar flicked a Tapash Baisya delivery to deep square leg and straightaway made the call “two”. Anil Kumble at the other end, took the first run but hesitated in taking the second one, that forced Tendulkar to stop short after taking a start for the second run.
But Kumble started running again, and Tendulkar also started running. Kumble again stopped in the middle of the pitch. Bangladesh wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud failed to collect the ball cleanly and that enabled Tendulkar to make his ground. But Kumble, in the meantime, had also started running towards the striker’s end where Tendulkar was already present. Kumble had almost reached that end when keeper Khaled Mashud threw the ball at the bowler’s end.
Kumble ran as fast as he could to beat the throw but to add to his luck and the comic situation, the throw was a little wide from the stumps and Kumble eventually had to dive to reach the crease at the umpire’s end before the Bangladesh fielder threw the ball to hit the stumps.
With a smile on his face, on field umpire Jeremy Lloyds signalled for the third umpire and both Tendulkar and Kumble got together to talk about as to what had just happened.
After all the confusion and hilarious running between the wickets, Kumble was adjudged not out and it was signaled two leg byes.
The chaotic and comical situation had both players ending up on the same end, with Kumble charging towards the crease despite Sachin already being safe.
The sheer confusion and the sight of two iconic players stopping awkwardly while running between the wickets made it hilarious for fans and commentators alike.
Despite being a moment of miscommunication, it lightened the mood of the match and became one of the funnier run-out incidents (that didn’t happen eventually) in cricket.
This was the same Test in which Kumble broke Kapil Dev’s record of 434 wickets to become India’s leading Test wicket-taker and Tendulkar hit an unbeaten 248 to equal Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test hundreds.
