Cricket’s most bizarre dismissals: Mohammed Siraj’s agony at Lord’s joins infamous list

Dubai: The third Test ended in heartbreak for Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who was bowled by Shoaib Bashir after a gritty 23-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja on the final day against England at Lord’s on Monday.

Having withstood 29 deliveries and taken multiple blows to the body, Siraj seemed determined to take India over the line. But with just 23 runs needed for victory, he defended a ball from Bashir off the back foot. The delivery, laced with overspin, dropped gently to the turf off his soft hands, only to roll back and clip the bails — leaving Siraj in tears as the Lord’s crowd erupted.

In modern cricket, we’ve seen everything — balls ricocheting off pads, bat edges, or even freak run-outs at the non-striker’s end. But some dismissals stand out for their sheer strangeness.

Gulf News takes a look at five other bizarre dismissals:

1. Srinath plays on vs Saqlain Mushtaq (Chennai, 1999)

Chasing 271 against Pakistan in Chennai, Sachin Tendulkar’s magnificent 136 brought India within touching distance. But after his dismissal at 254, Javagal Srinath — the last recognised batter — tried to defend Saqlain Mushtaq. The ball bounced awkwardly, snuck between his legs, and rolled onto the stumps. Pakistan won by 12 runs and received a standing ovation from the Chennai crowd.

2. Harry Brook’s freak dismissal vs Nathan Lyon (Edgbaston, 2023)

In the first Ashes Test of 2023, Harry Brook attempted to pad away a delivery from Nathan Lyon. The ball ricocheted off his thigh pad, ballooned into the air, struck his back, and rolled onto the stumps. Even England Cricket termed it a “freak dismissal.”

3. Dhananjaya de Silva hits stumps with his bat (Galle, 2021)

In a Test against West Indies at Galle, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva tried to stop the ball from bouncing back onto the stumps. Ironically, in the process, he ended up knocking the bails off with his own bat — a moment of misjudgment that stunned the crowd.

4. Henry Nicholls deflected drive dismissal (Headingley, 2022)

In one of the strangest dismissals ever, New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls drove a ball straight down the ground. But it struck non-striker Daryl Mitchell’s bat and deflected to Alex Lees at mid-off, who completed a legal catch. Jack Leach, the bowler, could hardly believe his luck.

5. Gatting bowled by Warne’s Ball of the Century (Old Trafford, 1993)

No list of bizarre dismissals is complete without that delivery. Shane Warne’s very first ball in Ashes cricket pitched outside leg stump, spun sharply through the rough, and clipped Mike Gatting’s off stump. Gatting stood stunned, as did everyone watching — it remains one of the most iconic and surreal moments in Test history.