Cricket is known for its tradition, strategy, and flashes of genius. It is frequently referred to as a gentleman’s game. But it is also a sport in which, in an instant, the extraordinary and the unexpected can happen. Many-a-times it has happened that the game has to be stopped because rain or poor lighting interfered. While these are the most common reasons, there are certain times when the game had to be halted for peculiar reasons. Here is a list of 10 times the players had stopped the play due to bizarre events, many of which are amusing when looked at retrospectively.
1. Excessive Brightness
You read that right. A game between India and New Zealand had to be halted as the light was too bright for the players to continue. It all began in the eleventh over when Dhawan, facing Ferguson, was forced to squint due to the bright sun. Dhawan decided to quickly speak with the on-field umpires after finding himself in this precarious situation. The game had to be temporarily stopped as a result to give everyone better visibility and an even playing field till the sun’s intensity dropped.
2. Bee Invasion
The incident happened in a game between South Africa and Sri Lanka when a swarm of bees descended upon the cricket pitch in the 48th over of the match. Players and umpires alike struck the deck in shock and disbelief. Chris Morris appeared to be doing his usual warm-up routine, which involved lying on the ground, in the middle of this confusing scenario. But as the camera panned across the pitch, it was clear that to avoid the unanticipated bee invasion, all of the players and officials had to adopt a similar defensive stance and lie low.
3. Dust Storm
In an ODI between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan, there was an unforeseen disruption. The cricket ground had severe visibility reduction due to dust storms that passed through the area. The problematic playing conditions brought on by the dust in the air forced the match to be temporarily suspended after 33 overs were played in the first innings.
4. Dog
While Australia was in the middle of their first innings, the incident occurred during the third delivery of the 43rd over. Unexpectedly, a dog wandered onto the cricket pitch, causing quite a stir as ground crew scrambled to catch it. The game halted momentarily due to this unanticipated development. Luckily, the dog eventually left the field through the same entrance it had used earlier.
5. Fog
The 2023 ODI World Cup match between India and New Zealand, which took place in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, took an extraordinary diversion when fog rolled in, thick and hazy, making it difficult for players on either side to follow the cricket ball. The match umpires decided to temporarily halt play until visibility improved due to these unfavourable conditions. This was the first time that fog had caused such an unusual disruption in cricket history.
6. Burnt Toast
At Brisbane’s Allan Border Field, with New South Wales comfortably winning, Nathon Lyon concluded there was little chance he would be asked to bat. He decided to take advantage of the moment and eat some toast. But due to being engrossed in the game, the toast was left in the toaster for a prolonged time, burning it. The umpires were forced to stop the game, evacuate the entire Stuart Law stand, and call for the deployment of fire engines on the ground because of this setting off the fire alarm.
7. Car
Cricket fans saw Delhi take on Uttar Pradesh in a highly anticipated Ranji Trophy match at the Palam Air Force Ground in 2017. But on the third day of the match, an incredible and unexpected event happened: a car managed to get past all security measures. It drove onto the cricket pitch, shocking everyone. It was one of the most unusual reasons for play to be stopped.
8. Eclipse
On a momentous day in India’s history in 1980, fate dealt a cruel hand. In honour of the BCCI’s 50th anniversary, they had planned a special Test match. However, a total solar eclipse coincided with this momentous occasion, taking place on the second day of the match. The scheduled day of rest was rescheduled as a result.
9. Monkeys
The English players saw a genuinely bizarre sight on their tour game against Haryana in Ahmedabad in 2012. The play was interrupted by a pitch invader different from the usual, a monkey. The players watched as the animal wandered about for a bit before going off the field to its partner on the outside.
10. Snake
An odd interruption happened during India vs. South Africa’s second T20 International at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati in 2017 when a snake was seen slithering across the pitch. This surprising event occurred just before the seventh over starting, and everyone’s attention was drawn to a black snake. The game was momentarily stopped as the ground crew hurried to remove the snake from the playing field out of caution.
