Intense Cricket Matches That Were Stopped By Animals: When a player arrives on the pitch to play cricket, the emphasis is on hitting the big shots ball by ball. It takes proper training, desire, and enthusiasm for them to finally attain this. But what if your powerful game is interrupted by some uninvited guests on the ground? What if you’re ready to play some massive shots when you notice a deadly reptile moving close to you? It is quite known that all of your focus and confidence will vanish in an instant.
Similarly, the same incident occurred in many critical matches, which hampered the action-packed game and caused players to lose focus while being in peak condition. This article will focus on five crucial matches that were hampered by animals on the ground.
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During a recent Lanka Premier League match between Galle Titans and Dambulla Aura, the cricket match was temporarily halted due to the presence of a snake on the field. Although it’s not uncommon for animals to cause a delay in matches, players and commentators found the situation amusing as ground officials worked to remove the snake from the pitch.
Snake stops play for sometime in Lanka Premier League.#LPL23 pic.twitter.com/rdRDCgCRpS
— Sportstime247 (@sportstime_247) July 31, 2023
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with videos and images of the snake being shared widely. India’s wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik even took to Twitter to mock the Bangladesh cricket team, saying “The naagin is back. I thought it was in Bangladesh.” Karthik’s comment was a reference to the Naagin dance celebration that the Bangladesh men’s team has performed after numerous victories.
The celebration has been a source of controversy, with rival teams taking offence to the gesture. Despite the brief interruption, the match between Galle Titans and Dambulla Aura resumed and ended in a thrilling finish. The incident with the snake will surely be remembered as a unique moment in the history of the Lanka Premier League.
On a sunny day in December 2015, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in India hosted the first one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies. The stadium was packed with enthusiastic cricket fans eagerly waiting for the game to begin.
As the match progressed into the 26th over of the Indian innings, something unexpected happened. A stray dog had somehow managed to make its way onto the pitch, much to the surprise of everyone present. The animal started running from one side of the pitch to the other, causing chaos and confusion amongst the players and officials.
Image Credit: Hindustan Times
The umpires were forced to halt the play and try to remove the dog from the ground. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, who were batting at the time, stood aside and watched the scene unfold. The stadium erupted in laughter as the entire incident was broadcasted on the giant screen, much to the amusement of the crowd.
Despite the efforts of the security personnel, the dog managed to evade capture for a few minutes, running around the pitch and enjoying its newfound fame. However, eventually, the stray dog left the field, and the game resumed.
During the first ODI of the 2010 series between India and New Zealand, something unexpected happened that left everyone in the stadium amused. The Kiwis were in the middle of their innings, chasing a target of 276, when a stray dog ran onto the field.
At first, the dog was just running around, oblivious to the match being played. But as it got closer to the centre, it became clear that play would have to be halted until the dog could be removed. Security personnel rushed onto the field, trying to catch the dog, but it was too quick for them.
Image Credit: Sportskeeda
As the dog continued to run around, India’s Suresh Raina decided to have a bit of fun. He tried to hide behind New Zealand’s Grant Elliott as the dog passed them by, much to the amusement of the crowd. It was a hilarious moment that brought some light-heartedness to the match.
Eventually, the security personnel managed to catch the dog and take it off the field. Play resumed, but the incident was not forgotten. In fact, it was one of many times when a dog attracted more attention during a cricket match.
During the first Test of the 2015 India-Sri Lanka series at Galle, a curious monkey made a surprise appearance on the field, causing a temporary halt in the game. The Sri Lankan team was batting on Day 3 of the match when the monkey suddenly ran towards the pitch, grabbing the attention of everyone present at the stadium.
The players, umpires, and fans were all amused by the unexpected visitor, who seemed to be exploring the cricket ground on its way to somewhere else. The monkey’s impromptu appearance added a unique charm to the match, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Image Credit: Sportskeeda
After a few minutes of exploring the field, the monkey eventually made its way off the ground, allowing the game to resume as normal. While it may have been an unusual interruption, it was a lighthearted moment that brought a smile to everyone’s face and served as a reminder that, sometimes, the unexpected can make life a little more interesting.
During a Test match between England and New Zealand in 2013, something unusual happened that caught the attention of everyone present. A duck of the paradise shelduck species had made its way to the ground and decided to settle there. As soon as people noticed the duck, it became the centre of attention and gained a lot of popularity among the fans.
Image Credit: Sportskeeda
Throughout the match, the duck sat still and watched the game. However, every time the ball was hit in its direction, it took flight, causing a stir among the spectators. This unexpected visitor added a unique element of excitement to the game and made it even more memorable. The crowd cheered and clapped for the duck, who had become a star in its own right. Even after the match ended, people continued to talk about this unusual incident, and the cricket-loving duck remained a topic of conversation for weeks to come.
In the second Twenty20 International between India and South Africa, an unexpected visitor made its way onto the cricket field. A snake was seen slithering towards the middle of the ground while the cricketers were in the process of changing the field placement of the fielders at the end of the Indian innings’ seven overs. The players immediately alerted the field officials, and the ground crew rushed over with the required tools to handle the situation.
Four men raced onto the cricket field, ready to catch the reptile and ensure the safety of the players and spectators. One man held a snake-catching stick, while another held a pail. The ground crew’s quick response showed that they were well-prepared for any situation that may occur during a game.
While there have been instances of animals and even humans disrupting games in the past, this unusual incident at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is one that will go down in history. Thanks to the efficient and professional response of the ground crew, the game was able to continue without any further interruptions
At the time 1983 World Series, a cricket match was taking place between Australia and England in Brisbane. The atmosphere was electric, with fans cheering and players giving their best on the field. However, something unexpected happened that day that left everyone in splits. As the game was in full swing, great noise was heard from one of the stands. It was a spectator who had managed to release a pig onto the ground.
The animal ran around the field, causing chaos and confusion among the players. But what made the incident even funnier was the fact that the pig had ‘Botham’ and ‘Eddie’ painted on either side. The names were an obvious reference to English players Ian Botham and Eddie Hemmings, who were known for their slightly plump physique. The crowd erupted into laughter as they watched the pig run around the field with the names of the players on its back.
Image Credit: Sportskeeda
The players themselves were shocked and surprised, not knowing how to react to the situation. A policeman was summoned to clear the pig off the playing area. He struggled for a while before finally managing to catch the animal and remove it from the field. The incident became the talk of the town, with people sharing anecdotes and jokes about it for weeks to come. It was a moment of light-heartedness in an otherwise intense and competitive game, bringing a smile to the faces of everyone present that day.
On 3rd April, the Indian Premier League’s 6th match between Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants was delayed due to an unexpected pitch invasion by a dog. Players and umpires tried their best to usher it off the field, but the stubborn animal led a series of groundstaff on a chase around the stadium.
#CSKvLSG #DogLover #CSK Even dog can not stop him to come #Chepauk pic.twitter.com/tOQDT9xble
— mohit (@Rajwar2Rajwar) April 3, 2023
As the spectators watched in amusement, the dog seemed to enjoy the spotlight, wagging its tail as it ran around the field. After a five-minute delay, the dog was finally driven away, and the match began.
While most people found the incident entertaining, batting great Sunil Gavaskar was not amused. He felt that the ground staff should have done a better job of ensuring that such incidents do not cause delays in the future.
Despite the unexpected interruption, the match went on as planned, and the players put on a great show for the fans. It was certainly an entertaining day for everyone who witnessed the dog’s unexpected pitch invasion.
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A young and passionate writer with a postgraduate degree in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kumar Shubham works as an Executive Content Writer for Gutshot Magazine and enjoys watching movies, making short films, and doing voice overs.
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