England spinner stuns cricket with 'ball of the 21st century'
Adil Rashid has left the cricket world in awe with what many are calling the ball of this century.
James Anderson sealed England’s 118-run victory over India in the fifth Test on Tuesday night, with a wicket that made him the most successful fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.
Audacious centuries from KL Rahul (149) and Rishabh Pant (114) had given India hope of saving the fifth Test and even reaching the unthinkable target of 464.
But the tide turned when Rahul was undone by an incredible ball from Rashid.
Rashid bowled Rahul with a ‘wonder ball’ that pitched way outside leg stump, spinning back out of the rough and hitting off.
The delivery left Rahul completely stunned, and had commentators searching for superlatives.
“Shane Warne ball! It pitched two foot outside leg stump, into the bowler’s footmarks,” Geoffrey Boycott said in commentary.
“That turned a long, long way. Rahul was just trying to angle it for a single.”
Many went as far as to call it the ball of the 21st century.
Would this one classify as Ball of the (21st) Century as well? #RahulBowledRashid #IndvEng
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 11, 2018
Nobody interested in Rashid bowled the ‘Ball of The 21st Century’ narrative? That spun miles…. #EngvInd #Rahul
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 11, 2018
Is this ball of the century or was @ShaneWarne’s a better delivery? https://t.co/IOdKZ3Tyuk
— The Cricket Asylum (@cricketasylum) September 11, 2018
oh no, another ball of the century #ENGvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 11, 2018
Got to be up there with Warnies ball of the century. Well played Adil! https://t.co/7EiZUrfMWz
— Tristristris (@tris_tris_tris) September 11, 2018
An absolute ball of the century from Adil Rashid to dismiss KL Rahul! #ENGvIND @ShaneWarne pic.twitter.com/yGGSPe2LH3
— Sporting Index (@sportingindex) September 11, 2018
Ball of the century ? #engvind like a throw back to @ShaneWarne v Gatt all those years who https://t.co/oD6UGMOYiH
— Rich (@romsey_squib) September 11, 2018
Two Australian cricketers knocked off their pedestal in a day! Firstly @jimmy9 pipped @glennmcgrath11 to become the leading seam wicket taker of all time , then rashid made a mockery of @ShaneWarne ball of the century.
— sam foster (@sammyfoster21) September 11, 2018
Did Rashid just recreate the ball of the century ????? https://t.co/fyV0X6Puzd
— Qasim Hafeez (@Qvsim_) September 11, 2018
Great day of Cricket today. What a send-off for Cook, @jimmy9 breaking McGrath's record and a 'ball of the century's by Rashid! #ENGvIND #ThanksChef
— Iain Bethune (@IainBethune) September 11, 2018
Up there with Shane Warne's "Ball of the century" 👏 https://t.co/4PrOSHaBl1
— Dan Smith 🏴 (@DanSmith_21) September 11, 2018
I've watched this 11 times in the last half hour and it keeps getting better. Ball of the century. #EngvInd https://t.co/MiWEVkgzlM
— Mgarfy (@Mgarfy) September 11, 2018
Anderson breaks Aussie legend’s all-time record
With less than an hour remaining and India teetering on 9-345, the 36-year-old Anderson was finally rewarded for a long spell as he ripped out Mohammed Shami’s middle stump.
It was Anderson’s 564th Test wicket — one more than retired Australian great Glenn McGrath managed — and left him fourth on the all-time list behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619).
There could not have been a more fitting conclusion to an incredible few days at the historic south London ground that on Monday witnessed Anderson’s close friend Alastair Cook sign off his record-breaking career with an emotional century.
They walked off together to a standing ovation on Tuesday and Anderson was close to tears as he spoke of his achievement.
“Happy that Cooky was on the field to see that wicket, it’s been a tough week,” Anderson, who played the first of his 143 Tests in 2003, said.
“I’m just happy to win the game. I wasn’t even thinking about the record. When India were building that partnership it was looking like they were going to get close.
“But I got into a good rhythm and thankfully (Joe) Root let me take the new ball and gave me a chance to take that wicket.”
with AAP