Within the realm of cricket, where customs and regulations coexist alongside instances of sheer genius and unanticipated mishaps, there is a particular form of dismissal notable for its rarity and mystery: getting sent off for obstructing the field. When a batsman is thought to have intentionally blocked the fielding side’s attempt to obtain a dismissal, this unusual dismissal occurs. It frequently sparks controversy and heated discussions among players and fans alike. Here is a list of 10 instances where players were given out for obstructing the field. These extraordinary and frequently contentious occurrences shed light on the delicate balance of sportsmanship and competition.
1. Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam was batting at 16 runs when he played a Sreesanth delivery towards mid-off, where Suresh Raina retrieved the ball and attempted to run him out by throwing it at the stumps. Inzamam made contact with the ball from slightly outside his crease in what appeared to be a defensive shot. To his amazement, he was pronounced out after India’s appeal. Naturally, he was not happy with the Indian side.
2. Ben Stokes
This specific incident happened in England’s run chase during the 26th over. Ben Stokes played a defensive shot, but Mitchell Starc fielded it straight back to him. Stokes found himself slightly out of his crease as he turned around while raising his left hand. As fate would have it, his raised hand unintentionally obstructed the ball’s path. Australia appealed against Stokes’ actions, and the third umpire, Joel Wilson, was assigned to decide after a lengthy discussion with the on-field umpires. Wilson gave it some thought and decided that Stokes had impeded the pitch.
3. Anwar Ali
Ali, in an attempt to make a hasty run, deliberately positioned himself in the path of the throw coming from wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock while running on the pitch. This action led to his dismissal. The decision to give him out was reached after consulting with the third umpire. Ali joined a list of players with this unwanted record, many of whom are from his country.
4. Mohammad Hafeez
In a March 2013 match against South Africa, Mohammad Hafeez became the first batsman to be dismissed for obstruction of the field following the recently changed rules. In an attempt to finish a second run, the opening batter changed course and was struck by AB de Villiers’s throw, which was aimed for the non-striker’s end. Hafeez was declared out by third umpire Billy Bowden. This regulation expressly prohibits batters from purposefully altering their running line to block the ball.
5. Mohinder Amarnath
In an odd turn of events, Amarnath was sent back by his partner Navjot Singh Sidhu, which put him in a difficult situation. The batsman kicked the ball in his direction as Ratnayeke and Arjuna Ranatunga, among others, scrambled to grab it to run him out. After giving it some thought, the umpires were persuaded that the batter was intentionally trying to block the run-out. Consequently, he was ruled out.
6. Ramiz Raja
Ramiz Raja was playing on 98 in a losing cause. He realized he was a long way from his crease as he tried to come back for a second run. He blocked the fielder’s throw with his bat in a last-ditch effort. He ended up on 99 as a result of this dismissal due to this decision.
7. Jason Roy
Livingston played a somewhat short ball in the direction of point. Jason Roy started a run at the opposite end, but Livingston turned down a single, so Roy had to hustle back to his crease. Roy crossed the pitch while doing this, ending himself in the ball’s path. Interestingly, when he executed this move, he looked at the fielder but had his back on the ball when it struck him.
8. Danushka Gunathilaka
Pollard delivered a short-pitched delivery that Gunathilaka managed to fend away. In response, Pathum Nissanka initiated a run, but Gunathilaka, who had advanced down the pitch, abruptly sent him back and retreated to his crease. However, as he moved back, he stepped on the ball, knocking it backward. Pollard promptly appealed, and the on-field umpire, Joe Wilson, indicated a tentative decision of out. Subsequently, the television umpire, Nigel Guguid, confirmed that Gunathilaka had deliberately tried to obstruct the run-out, resulting in his dismissal.
9. Yusuf Pathan (IPL)
In a closely contested match, Yusuf Pathan successfully dealt with a yorker bowled by Wayne Parnell. Pathan, in an attempt to secure a single, set off for a run. However, as he ran, the bowler also tried to reach the ball. In this situation, Pathan deliberately used his foot to nudge the ball, causing interference with the fielding side’s efforts. Given the unusual circumstances, the matter was brought to the attention of the third umpire, who subsequently ruled Pathan out for this act of obstruction in the field.
10. Amit Mishra (IPL)
In the final over, Mishra was desperate to get off the strike and appeared to alter his path when he realized he couldn’t complete the run as planned. On the other end, bowler Khaleel Ahmed gathered the throw from the wicketkeeper and attempted to release the ball towards the non-striker’s end. However, the throw struck Mishra’s right arm. This prompted the fielding side to make an immediate appeal, and the umpires responded by signaling that a review would be conducted to ensure clarity. Eventually, he was given out.
