Cricket has been a source of nostalgia for many, and it’s not just the memorable moments that come to mind. It’s also the hilarious moments that have sometimes brought proceedings to a brief halt. In this article, let us journey back in time and recall some other instances where cricket fans were left astonished and confused by the cause of the interruption in play.
#1 Car enters on the ground during the play
In 2017, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh faced off in the Ranji Trophy at the Palam Air Force Ground. Featuring cricketing giants such as Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Suresh Raina, the match took an unexpected turn on its third day when a car suddenly drove onto the pitch, evading all security. The officials were quick to close off his exit points. When questioned, the driver claimed that he had panicked and it was merely an honest mistake.
#2 Bees swarmed the stadium
During a match between England and Sri Lanka at Kandy, bees suddenly swarmed the stadium, leaving the players in shock and confusion. In a display of quick thinking, the umpire lay flat on the ground to save themselves from the attack. After the umpires determined that conditions were safe, the play resumed after a significant delay.
#3 Caterers failed to show up on time
On Day 1, the officials in Bloemfontein experienced a very embarrassing moment before lunch. Unfortunately, the lunch was pushed back 10 minutes as the caterers responsible for providing food for the Bangladesh team arrived late. The delay was caused by an incorrect menu being printed.
#4 Amateur cooks creating a buzz
At Old Trafford in Manchester, Lancashire and Kent were locked in a thrilling cricket match when the fire alarms suddenly started to go off. The players, spectators, and coaches braced for the worst, expecting to see flames engulfing the pavilion. To their shock and relief, the source of the alarms was revealed to be amateur cooks that had over-cooked a specific dish, creating so much smoke that it triggered the alarms.
#5 Burned toast triggers alarm
In the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield contest between New South Wales and Queensland in Brisbane, the play was unfortunately abruptly halted with 18 runs left for NSW to win the match. The cause of this interruption was a burnt toast – none other than that of Nathan Lyon, who had accidentally overcooked it and caused the fire alarms to go off. Fire trucks quickly arrived at the stadium to assess the situation, not realizing the culprit until later.