Ball of 21st century takes out Haddin
On June 4, 1993, England’s Mike Gatting was the victim of a Shane Warne leg-break at Old Trafford so mesmerising it lives on as the ‘‘Ball of the (20th) Century.
Twenty-two years later to the day, Guyanese leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has delivered a wonder ball of his own to deceive Australia’s Brad Haddin at Windsor Park that is also sure to be replayed time and time again.
Cricket has a habit of tossing up glorious coincidences and Bishoo, 29, did his best to imitate Warne’s legendary first ball in a test on English soil on the second day of the first test here.
A cry of ‘‘bowled Shane’’ was heard in the media stand at the River End of the island’s cricket stadium after Bishoo left Haddin stranded in his crease, barely believing the delivery that had pitched on leg gone turned sharply past him and crashed into the top of his off stump.
It was the highlight of a stunning first-session performance from the diminutive West Indies bowler, who added to his capture of Australian captain Michael Clarke on day one by sending Steve Smith and Shane Watson packing, as well as Haddin.
When the Australian wicketkeeper was bamboozled, Bishoo had three wickets in 19 balls, playing on the tourists’ vulnerability against spin in subcontinental-like conditions.
Since his debut four years ago, however, Bishoo has been an occasional test player, with the contest against Australia this week only his 13th match. The West Indies may well be picking him a lot more regularly after this memorable delivery.
And Australia might be picking Adam Voges a bit more after he became the oldest player to score a century on debut.
Voges made 130 not out, combining with No 11 Josh Hazlewood to break the spirit of the West Indies by adding 97 runs for the final wicket to turn a tight contest turned into a probable rout.
Australia were dismissed for 318 in their first innings, a lead of 170 runs.
They inflicted more misery on the hosts by picking up two wickets to put the West Indies in trouble at 25-2 at stumps, trailing by 145 runs with eight secondinnings wickets in hand.
Voges’ score was the highest in a test in Dominica.
At 35 years and 243 days, he surpassed the previous oldest player to notch a debut century, Dave Houghton of Zimbabwe, who was 35 and 118 days when he accomplished the feat against India in Harare in 1992.
Voges forced his way into the Australian team by averaging 104 in the Australian domestic season and his excellent test debut suggested he will stay in the team for the looming Ashes series in England.