Strange facts of cricket -- Hilarious!!

Did you know that because of a decline in sports and an increase in financial hardships during the second world war, the cricket stadium at Christchurch, New Zealand (now known as the AMI Stadium) was converted into a potato patch!

During the 2002-2003 India tour of New Zealand, strange records were created during the 2nd Test at Hamilton. On the 3rd day of the test, each of the 4 innings were on display – the day started with India playing its 1st Innings and when the day folded, New Zealand’s second innings was in progress. India scored 98 in their 1st innings but went on to take a 1st innings lead, and in the process became the first team in the history of cricket to take a lead after being dismissed for less than 100 runs!

Sussex batsman H.J. Heygate was given out in a match with Somerset in 1919 because he didn’t reach the crease within two minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. Poor Heygate was crippled with rheumatism.

A team of one-legged cricketers played a team of one-armed cricketers in 1863. The one-legged team proposed from their opponents’ difficulties in catching the ball and won by 2 runs.

Club cricketer Lindsay Martin scored 100 off 20 deliveries for Rosewater against Warradale in 1987. He hit 13 sixes, five fours and two singles.

Surrey villagers Bookham beat the Electrical Trades Commercial Travellers Association CC in 1952 without scoring a run from the bat. The ETCTA were dismissed for 0, and then the first ball of the Bookham innings went for four byes.

The Test match between England and South Africa at Durban in 1939 was finally abandoned as a draw on the tenth day because England players had to catch their ship home.

Players of Horsham and South Hampstead fled the pitch when a menacing-looking bull appeared on the scene, having escaped from a nearby market. The only person left out in the middle was one of the umpires who thought it was a female of the species.

The Duke of Wellington played for All Ireland against Garrison in 1792, scoring 5 and 1.

When Abdul Aziz was injured in the first innings of a match in Karachi in 1959, the scorecard read: “Abdul Aziz retired hurt...0.” But the injury proved to be fatal, so far the second innings the scorer wrote: “Abdul Aziz did not bat, dead...0.”

The First Test between Young Sri Lanka and Young England at Columbo in 1987 was held up when a large iguana crept across the wicket.

South Africa ’s Hugh Tayfield bowled 16 consecutive eight-ball maiden overs against England in 1957.

To liven up a dull encounter between Sussex and Leicestershire, Sussex ’s John Snow bowled a ball of soap at batsman Peter Marner. The scorecard recorded the resultant contact between ball and bat as: “Ball exploded”.

A fielder in a match at Horncastle, Lincolnshire,w as struck on the head by a hang-glider making an unscheduled landing.

Pakistan Railways beat Dera Ismail Khan by an innings and 851 runs in 1964. In reply to the railwaymen’s 910 for 6 declared, Dera Ismail Khan were bowled out 32 and 27.

Cricket in Latvia began and ended when a policeman, sent to observe the strange game from close quarters, stopped a cover drive with his head. The game was immediately banned in Latvia for being too dangerous.

Batting at Kalgoorlie, Australia, in the 1970s, Stan Dawson was struck by a ball which set light to a box of matches in his trouser pocket. He was run out as he tried to beat down the flames.

England wicket-keeper Godfrey Evans once spent 1hr and 37min at the crase before scoring his first run. The occasion was a Test match against Australia at Adelaide in 1947. Evans went on to make 10 not out.

Despite having no left arm from the elbow down, Bob Ascough scored a century for Yorkshire club Staveley against Minskip in 1963.