Blast From the Past: Ian Botham Hit Wicket

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There has been some interest in Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal, but as Straight Point noted, “It’s one of those things, and you shouldn’t read too much into it.”

Ian Botham’s 1991 Hit Wicket could be regarded as the most famous one, although these dismissals are so rare that each one has a story of its own.

He tried to play a hook shot off a Curtly Ambrose delivery, lost balance, and stepped over the stumps. That in itself was just “one of those things”, but what happened in the BBC Radio commentary box made it something to remember.

Brian Johnston was reading out the scorecard. At the mention of Bothan, his fellow Jonathan Agnew quipped, “He just couldn’t get his leg over.” There’s a double meaning to it, which Johnston was fast to figure. He burst out in laughter and his giggles were all the commentary everyone heard for a minute.

There was no You Tube when the match between England and West Indies was being played at the Oval, but we found this video recording of Botham’s dismissal, along with some other rare ones.