RD memorial 'Caught short' selection

lardbucket wrote:nice Andrew Miller article on cricinfo celebrating some famous failures to make the crease.

The Allan Donald WC semi-final runout description almost brings tears to the eyes.

I'd add to these classics: Kallicharran (the 1973 Windies run out at stumps by Tony Greig), Boycott's famous 1970-71 dummy spit, almost any Test innings involving either Rick Darling or Graeme Wood, and Katich's run out in the World XI game (when he was herded off the pitch by the bowler).

Fred Nerk wrote:Perth Ashes 94-95, Steve W on 99, McDermott batting 11 with a bad hammy, Mark W acting as his runner.....you can probably guess the rest.

Basil wrote:There was quite a few years ago - a minor county player who was timed out. His excuse? he was sat on the crapper!!!

Ian Meckiff Brisbane, 1960-61
Perhaps the most famous finish to a Test, and in no small part thanks to Ron Lovitt's iconic photograph of the conclusion. After a see-saw fifth afternoon in the opening Test between Australia and West Indies, the last over began with Australia needing six to win and three wickets in hand.

Richie Benaud holed out in between scrambled ones and twos, and Wally Grout was run-out off the sixth delivery (it was in the era of eight-ball overs) by a bullet-like throw from deep midwicket. Off the next ball - the penultimate - with the scores level, Lindsay Kline clipped Wes Hall to square leg. Ian Meckiff responded to Kline's call immediately but Joe Solomon swooped and, with one stump to aim at, scored a direct hit with Meckiff a yard short. Such was the confusion that a distressed Meckiff was sure Australia had lost, turning to Hall and saying, "fancy losing like that", while a jubilant Rohan Kanhai was equally certain West Indies had won. Richie Benaud, Australia's captain, was utterly deflated that what he saw as a sure-fire winning position had been squandered. "Don't worry," Don Bradman told him. "You'll find that this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to the game of cricket."