"How shit you must be if I got you out twice!"
-Paul Harris to Andrew Symonds, Perth 2008

Sunday, March 28, 2010

When extraordinary fielders get run out

Okay so Ricky Ponting is hardly extraordinary these days, but he used to be once upon a time. Now, he is just pretty good.

But that is not the point. The point is when you are a good fielder, whatever would posses you to run between the wickets like you are taking a stroll through the park? Is it because you are not the fielder? Do you think just because it's not you they must all be Ashish Nehras?

Ricky Ponting has now been run out a stunning 13 times in tests, which is a world record. I know what you are thinking. Thirteen is not really a high number. Then let me remind you that it's a test, where there is rarely any need to take an urgent single. Which means that if you have been run out 13 times, it is a good indication that you thought Freddie didn't know how to hit the stumps. Because...well Freddie isn't Ricky Ponting!

Another mastermind of run outs of recent times has been AB de Villiers. He has only been run out 4 times in tests but his overall record (Tests, ODIs and T20s) is 13. Considering AB's only been playing 6 years compared to Ricky's 16 years and 43 overall run outs, I would say he is pretty much on track to beat that record. Plus, AB's specialty is running other people out. He forgets that he is faster than the average man.

It's quite funny. Especially when you realize Jonty Rhodes was only run out once in tests and 16 times overall. Not only did Jonty field like superman, he ran like someone was chasing him with a knife. And dived like he just discovered a swimming pool at the end of the pitch.

Actually, it's really frustrating. Ricky can keep up with it for entertainment value, but AB, well he needs to stop. Now.

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