There is a new contender for the worst cricket clanger of all time after Bangladesh had a moment of madness against New Zealand.
There are shockers, and then there are shockers.
Bangladesh committed one of the all-time cricket howlers on Tuesday when it decided to call for a completely unnecessary review on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand.
After establishing a 130-run lead with a strong first innings batting performance, Bangladesh looked to ram home its advantage at Mount Maunganui with the ball.
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But the Tigers showed they were way too eager when they opted for a review when the Kiwis were 2/90.
New Zealand veteran Ross Taylor clearly defended a full delivery from Ebadot Hossain with his bat, knocking the ball onto the off side.
But Bangladesh believed the ball had hit the Kiwi veteran’s pad and asked for the decision to be sent to DRS to be reviewed for LBW, challenging umpire Chris Brown’s call of not out.
As the third umpire went through the DRS process, the replays clearly showed the ball cannoning into Taylor’s bat and going nowhere near his pad at all.
“It’s clearly straight on to the bat so we go back to Chris on field,” the third umpire said.
“Chris, you can stay with your on-field decision.”
The nonsensical review left the commentators in stitches as Bangladesh wasted one of its precious reviews.
The bizarre call had many fans chuckling and labelling it the worst review cricket has ever seen.
Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb tweeted: “That’s it. We have it. The worst review of all time.”
AAP sports journalist Ed Jackson said: “Bangladesh have played some great cricket in this Test but their reviews… woah. That last one… one of the worst reviews you’ll ever see.”
Crizbuzz writer Bharath Ramaraj added: “Some desperate reviews from Bangladesh in search of wickets. They have lost all their reviews now.”
The wasted review was a rare blemish for Bangladesh as Hossain tore through New Zealand’s middle order to collect career-best figures of 4/39 off 17 overs on Day 4.
Bangladesh had New Zealand on the ropes and were eyeing a historic victory after ripping through the hosts’ top-order batsmen on the penultimate day of the first Test.
Bangladesh have never before tasted success in New Zealand, losing all 33 matches played across three formats, including nine Tests.
But it was panic stations for the Kiwis when Hossain dismissed Henry Nicholls and Rom Blundell for ducks in the same over. At one stage he had taken three wickets for no runs in eight balls.
At 5/147 New Zealand have a small 17-run lead, but with their top three scorers from the first innings, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls and Will Young all dismissed.
Captain Tom Latham and Tom Blundell have also been removed, leaving Ross Taylor unbeaten on 37 with Rachin Ravindra on six.
When Bangladesh were all out for 458, a 130-run lead on the fourth morning, Latham and Young confidently took New Zealand to lunch at 10 without loss.
But when play resumed, Latham (14) chopped Taskin Ahmed on to his stumps and Conway (13) edged Ebadot on to his pads and the ball ballooned to Shadman Islam, who took the catch.
Young and Taylor mounted a rescue mission but when their 73-run stand ended, with Young out for 69, Nicholls and Blundell quickly followed without bothering the scoreboard.
If Bangladesh had a problem, it was with their fielding.
Liton Das dropped a regulation chance from Young early in his innings and Taylor also had lives.
Shadman spilled a straightforward offering from Taylor off Mehidy Hasan, and there was a run-out opportunity where Bangladesh originally threw the ball to the wrong end, and Taylor was still out of his crease when the throw went to the right end — but missed the stumps.
Bangladesh, sent into bat before lunch on day two, occupied the crease for 176.2 overs before Shoriful Islam was the last man out before lunch on Tuesday.
It was an impressive team effort with half-centuries for skipper Mominul Haque, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, as well as a 47 by Mehidy.
With AFP
Originally published as Bangladesh’s ‘worst review of all time’ against New Zealand stuns cricket world
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