Fielding is one aspect of cricket that is controllable. Players don’t really have control over how they bat or bowl, but fielding is certainly something that is never beyond them. There are natural athletes who shine through while there are few who put in the hard yards. Their preparation sets them apart. Here we have given the Top 10 Run Outs In Cricket History.
Outfielders are the ones who need to have strong throwing arms. They have to fire in throws from a range of 60-80 meters. There is the best set of people who are capable of doing that. This bunch of fielders make the game look even more exciting. The way they affect runouts is a sight for the sore eye. Runouts under pressure add a lot of drama to the proceedings. They do not just alter the course of the game but even the series at large.
We look at 10 such top run-outs in cricket history:
#10 Ravindra Jadeja’s runout of Robin Peterson [2013]
South Africa was cruising in their run-chase against India in the opening game of the Champions Trophy in 2013. Robin Peterson and AB de Villiers combined forces to put the innings on an overdrive. But in a moment of sheer brilliance, Jadeja fielding at mid-wicket stopped a hardball, paused for a moment, and hit the stumps to catch Peterson short. South Africa couldn’t really recover post that runout. India went on to win not just the game but ended up being the winners of the tournament too. India was easily the best fielding side in the competition.
#9 Temba Bavuma’s runout of David Warner [2016]
South Africa was one bowler short as Dale Steyn was ruled out from the Test. Australia was quite ahead in the game having all ten wickets in hand. It was at this moment that Temba Bavuma arguably changed the course of the Test series. Warner tapped a ball to short cover and started running. Bavuma quickly pounced on the ball and caught Warner short at the non-striker’s end. This breakthrough helped South Africa to run through the home team. Australia went on to lose the series. It all boiled down to Bavuma’s brilliant heist.
#8 Mohit Sharma’s runout of AB de Villiers [2015]
India had posted a sizeable total batting first in the World Cup league game of 2015. South Africa were decently placed in the chase with AB de Villiers and Faf Du Plessis at the crease. MCG, the venue for the game is known as the cauldron. There are easy twos on offer whenever the ball goes beyond the thirty-yard circle. ABD had just hit a ball to the left of sweeper cover and was strolling for a couple. Enter Mohit Sharma, who fired in a great throw from the deep. He caught ABD short of his crease. Sharma being a pacer wasn’t taken seriously as a fielder. But his throw changed the game’s outcome.
#7 Yuvraj Singh’s runout of Michael Bevan [2000]
Yuvraj Singh announced himself onto the international stage in Champions Trophy 2000. He made his batting debut against Australia smashing a 80-ball 84. His breathtaking stroke-making made people take notice of his talent. But Singh was far from done that game. He effected a brilliant runout of Michael Bevan to derail Australia’s chase. Singh fielding at mid-off was quick to affect a direct-hit to catch Bevan short. This dismissal played a key role in halting Australia’s charge. India went on to knock world champions, Australia from the tournament. Yuvraj Singh, soon became a household name.
#6 Mohammad Kaif-Dinesh Karthik runout of Paul Collingwood [2004]
India had already lost the 3-match ODI series 2-0. They had just posted a paltry 204 in the final ODI. Their bowlers staged a stunning comeback to dismantle the top-order. Paul Collingwood and Michael Vaughan were trying to stitch a partnership. Collingwood looking to unsettle the spinner tried to walk down the track. Little did he know what was to follow. Mohammad Kaif, fielding at forward short leg, quickly parried the throw to wicketkeeper. Dinesh Karthik, standing in his debut game did the rest. It was sheer piece of magic that the fielder-keeper duo managed to achieve.
#5 Gary Pratt’s runout of Ricky Ponting [2005]
England had surprisingly caught Australia on the back foot in the 2005 Ashes series. The game was hanging on a thread in the Trent Bridge Test match. Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain looked determined to stage a fight. England were forced to field a substitute for injured Simon Jones. Nobody then had expected that Gary Pratt who was filling in for Jones will go on to have the greatest impact on the series. Pratt affected an excellent piece of runout to catch Ponting short of the crease. A fuming Ponting walked back to the pavilion throwing choicest off verbals at the England dressing room.
#4 Mohammad Kaif’s runout to dismiss Nick Knight [2003]
India had posted a competitive total of 250 on board batting first. They needed inspiration first up to restrict England in their tracks. India did not have to wait long for a magical moment. Mohammad Kaif stationed at short mid off arguably affected India’s greatest ever run out. Nick Knight tapped a ball towards mid-off and started running. Kaif hared towards the ball and took the stumps with his dive. India were all over England in a split second. The template remained the same for the evening as India trounced England to qualify for the next stage in the 2003 World Cup.
#3 Jonty Rhodes runout of Inzamam-ul-Haq [1992]
The world was stunned when they saw what Jonty Rhodes did in the 1992 World Cup. Rhodes introduced new realms of possibility when it came to fielding. Pakistan’s batting sensation, Inzamam-ul-Haq was running towards the danger end. Rhodes fielding at backward point was spectacularly nimble. He took the ball along with him to jump onto the stumps. Cricketing world were left gasping for breath when they saw what they saw. The backward point position came to known as the Jonty corner from then on.
#2 Martin Guptill’s direct hit to dismiss MS Dhoni [2019]
MS Dhoni was the last man standing between New Zealand and the World Cup final in 2019. He was entering familiar territory with 31 runs to score off final two overs. Dhoni was up against Lockie Ferguson. He smashed the first ball for six. His six ignited the hopes of billion Indians.
Dhoni and India for a moment felt like were on course for something special. Ferguson bowled a short delivery next up, Dhoni awkwardly fended it to deep square leg. In order to retain strike, Dhoni hared back to the crease trying to take the second run. But Martin Guptill effected a direct hit from 60 metres to not just end Dhoni’s innings but also India’s hopes in the World Cup.
#1 Mark Waugh-Damien Fleming-Adam Gilchrist’s runout of Allan Donald [1999]
Before the 2019 ODI World Cup final that ended in a heartbreak for the losing team. There was a game played 20 years ago that held the bagging rights for being the most emotional game ever. It broke a million South African hearts. The game not only ended in the great what ifs but also effectively left a nation forever in doubt citing its ability to win big games.
South Africa had to win the semifinal while Australia required to just tie the game. In the most dramatic fashion, the scores were tied. Lance Klusener who went on to win the player of the series award in the 1999 World Cup was powering South Africa to a famous win. He was falling short of the partners at the other end. Allan Donald was the number 11 accompanying Klusener. 9 runs were needed of the last over, Klusener smashed two back-to-back boundaries of the first two deliveries.
South Africa had a close shave off the very next ball but managed to live yet another day. In a cruel twist of fate, Klusener smashed the ball to mid-off and started running. Donald, at the non-strikers end was plain ball-watching. Mark Waugh, fielding at mid-off parried the ball to Damien Fleming, the bowler. He underarmed the throw to Adam Gilchrist, the keeper who took off the bails. This dismissal dashed South Africa’s hopes of making it to the World Cup finals. They are yet to qualify for a World Cup final. This fact pretty much sums up their fate that was sealed on that eventful day.
These are the Top 10 Run Outs In Cricket History.
