WATCH: The greatest run out in Ashes history…by a player who wasn’t even in the XI
There are many Ashes moments in the 21st century, or in its entire history, that are worth remembering and cherishing for a long time. But not many compare to the real drama and thrill involved with Gary Pratt’s run out, a direct hit that dismissed the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. The most astonishing part of the entire story being, Pratt was not even in the XI for that fixture.
Rolling back the clock to 2005, the arch-rivals were locking horns at Trent Bridge. Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting were gearing up to take control despite England being well ahead in the game. This is when Simon Jones went on a break (and was eventually taken to the hospital) and Gary Pratt came in as a substitute fielder.
Martyn went for a quick run after tapping the ball towards covers, only to see Pratt running in quickly to the ball and hitting the stumps with a fantastic direct throw. He managed to infuriate the Aussie skipper, who was livid with the fact that the English fast bowlers were going off the field regularly and was spotted shouting at the English head coach Duncan Fletcher.
This was all a master ploy in work for over a year. Trevor Penny, England’s fielding coach, had decided to give the fast bowlers some regular comfort breaks between overs and had kept people like Pratt ready to influence the game as a substitute, although it is quite difficult to do so in this game.
Also Read: WATCH: Batter tries to emulate David Warner’s double-bounce hit, gets run out instead
A decade later, while giving an interview to Palatinate, Pratt said that he was incredibly proud to be associated with that memory in English history. “It’s something that nobody can take away from me”, he said. “It’s probably something that people will always associate me with. You get that one chance in probably the biggest game in England’s history. Thankfully, I picked it up cleanly, threw it and the ball just hit the stumps.”
Here’s the Gary Pratt run out, which is rated as the greatest run out in Ashes history
As we don’t have a Fielded Mate or Run Out Mate we’ll post it here.
Gary Pratt running out Ricky Ponting, a moment which will never be forgotten.
— Cricket Mate
(@CricketMate_) September 3, 2020
(@CricketMate_) 