I vividly remember 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 match in 1981 against England in Mumbai. We saw the most unusual runout in a test match that day.
Srikkanth ran himself out by performing an unexpected and nonchalant act. The ball was still in play when he casually strolled outside the crease, unaware of the consequences. John Emburey, the English fielder, seized the opportunity, swiftly retrieved the ball, and ran Srikkanth out. The English team, much like their Indian counterparts, was taken aback by such audacious behavior. This kind of behavior was expected in school cricket rather than in a Test match. Srikkanth, filled with embarrassment, had to make the long walk back to the pavilion, leaving everyone astonished at his dismissal.
Ironically, just a few minutes ago, history repeated itself on a bright afternoon at Lords during the fifth day of the second Test against Australia. 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 to have a casual chat with his partner, as is customary at the end of an over. Little did he know that the ball was still in play, and Alex Carey, astutely observant, spotted Bairstow’s carelessness and swiftly threw the ball directly at the stumps. Bairstow, completely unaware of his predicament, was nowhere near the frame, resulting in a run-out that left everyone astonished once again.