Ranking top three most unusual dismissals in cricket history

There are many ways in which a batter can be dismissed in cricket. When a batter gets out in an unusual manner, it amuses the crowd and is cruel to the player who has to leave the crease. 

Bowled out, caught out, leg before wicket (LBW), stumped, and run out are some of the common dismissals we have seen in every match. But very rarely do we see a batter getting out on a hit wicket, hitting the ball twice, handling the ball, obstructing the field, etc. 

The opponent will be overjoyed to get a wicket unexpectedly and it will be painful to give a free wicket to the player’s team. Here we look at three of the most unusual dismissals in cricket history. 

1. Michael Vaughan, England

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan’s dismissal during the third Test of England’s tour of India in 2001-02 was one of the most unusual dismissals in cricket history. Vaughan tried to play a sweep shot against Sarandeep Singh, but completely missed and the ball hit his pad and bounced off the ground. He flicked the ball away with his hands, despite the fact that the ball did not go toward the stumps. 

There was no attempt from the former England captain to obstruct the fielders or prevent the ball from rolling back onto the stumps. But he got it all wrong as it was against the laws of cricket and the umpire had to give him out as ‘handled the ball’. The strange dismissal happens when he was looking very comfortable at the crease with the visitors at 206/3.

2. Leonard Hutton, England 

England batting legend Sir Len Hutton is the first victim of an ‘Obstructing the Field’ dismissal in cricket history. The unfortunate incident took place against South Africa’s off-spinner Athol Rowan during a Test match in London on 16 August 1951. Rowan induced a top edge off Hutton’s bat and in order to prevent the ball from disturbing the woodwork, the batter tried to hit it away. This prevented wicketkeeper Russell Endeen from reaching the ball and the umpires dismissed him for obstructing the field. 

3. Henry Nicholls, New Zealand

Talking about unusual dismissals in cricket, the wicket of New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls is one such strange wicket in recent times. Nicholls was building a partnership with Daryl Mitchell after losing their first three wickets on Day 1 of the third Test against England at Headingley in June 2022.

Nicholls hit a drive down the ground off England spinner Jack Leach and everyone thought the ball rushed towards the boundary. But the unlucky batter had to leave the crease as the ball ricocheted right off the middle of non-striker Mitchell’s bat before ballooning into the hands of Alex Lees at mid-off.