Batsman bowled as ball strikes from behind the wicket

by Arunabha Sengupta

30 Aug 1948.

Compton and Edrich had hammered the bowlers all around the hallowed turf of Lord’s. Even a six-wicket haul by Eric Hollies had not really helped.

Then the Middlesex spinners, Jim Sims and Jack Young, had skittled Warwickshire out for 110.

Following on 269 behind, the visitors were fighting back through a spirited third-wicket partnership between the Northumberland recruit Jim Ord and the classy New Zealander Martin Donnelly.

And then it happened.

Young’s tossed-up delivery pitched on Donnelly’s boot as he leaned forward. The ball lobbed over his head and travelled in an arc over wicketkeeper Dick Spooner. It landed in one of the footmarks made by Middlesex medium-pacer Laurie Gray.
And from there it ricocheted off that uneven surface and shooting back to hit the wicket.

In empirical terms, ignoring the journey behind the wicket and back, the ball had in effect gone off the batsman’s toe, hit the ground, and then the wicket. Hence, when bemused fielders appealed somewhat hesitantly, the umpire had to nod in assent. Donnelly departed, bowled Young for 55, the most bizarre of dismissals.

Middlesex won by nine wickets.