Playing for Western Australia against New South Wales in the group’s Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday, Australian batsman Hilton Cartwright was dismissed in a manner that can be defined as weird.
With Jason Sangha bowling at the other end, Hilton Cartwright was given the task to tug the ball flat over mid-wicket because it pitched midway through the wicket. However, as quickly as the ball flew off Cartwright’s bat, it hit the unfortunate Nick Larkin at short-leg directly on his helmet as he ducked for cover.
The ball, without delay, looped up within the air, simplest for Sangha to pouch a clean capture, leaving Cartwright in disbelief.
New South Wales subsequently went on to win the match by an innings and 51 runs.
Interestingly, in February 2017, Queensland’s Mark Steketee became the first participant to be brushed off in the same way when a trap became completed after it hit a fielder’s helmet. Even extra superb is that the fielder in question then becomes – you guessed it – Nick Larkin! It turns out, and lightning does strike twice.
Before 2017, the wicket could not have stood as any ball that hit a fielder’s helmet would have been declared a dead ball. After Philip Hughes’ unfortunate death, the guidelines were amended.
