Did you know?: This Indian cricketer is the only player in the world to be dismissed in two bizzare ways

There are many weird ways you can get out in cricket. Obstructing the field and handling the ball are two of those. The instances of any batsman getting dismissed by those are quite rare though. But, did you know that there is a batsman who has been dismissed in both of this bizzare fashion? 

Yes, and he is none other than India’s quick-bowling all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath. 

Handled the ball was Law 33 in the Laws of Cricket. A batsman could be given out for handling the ball if, while playing a delivery, the batsman intentionally touched the ball with one or both of their hands not holding the bat. A decision of not out would be reached if the batsman handled the ball to avoid incurring an injury. A bowler did not receive credit for the wicket when a batsman was dismissed in this fashion. 

India and New Zealand were in Australia for tri-series in 1986. During the second final between India and Australia, Amarnath became the first victim of handling the ball in ODIs. The match was played at MCG, Melbourne. Amarnath was batting on 15 when off-spinner Greg Matthews bowled a delivery which went pass the batter and was approaching the stumps. The right handed batter quickly fiddled the ball by his hands to disturb its path. Hence, he was adjudged out for handling the ball. This was the first instance in ODI cricket that a batsman was dismissed by this form of dismissal. 

Obstructing the field is one of the rare form of dismissal. Law 37 of the Laws of cricket is based on Obstructing the field. According to Law 37, “Either batsman, on appeal, shall be out Obstructing the Field if he willfully obstructs the opposite side by word or action.” 

In 1989, India was playing an ODI against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad. While India was batting first, Mohinder Amarnath kicked a ball away from the bowler to avoid getting run-out. The umpires were convinced that it was a clear attempt by the batsman to obstruct the field in order to prevent form a run-out. 

The versatile batsman was batting with Navjot Siddhu after India lost two wickets under fifty runs mark. The partnership was going good before this incident took place. Mohinder went back on the score of 28 and Sidhu smashed 80 runs. Interestingly, Sidhu was later run-out. India won that match by six runs and Navjot was adjudged as the player of the match. 

Later, handled the ball was integrated into the Law on obstructing the field when the Laws of Cricket were rewritten in 2017.