5 Occasions of instant commentator's curse in International cricket

During last year’s India-South Africa Test, the on-air commentator Sanjay Manjrekar stressed on the fact that Rohit Sharma never got dismissed stumped in first-class cricket as the Indian batsman repeatedly came down the track to the spinners to hit boundaries. Three days later, Rohit, in his maiden Test as an opener, was dismissed stumped for the second time in the match.

“Commentator’s curse” is quite common in cricket but Manjrekar’s instance was unique as Rohit got out stumped twice in the same Test, a feat that no other Indian managed before. Even more special cases of a curse caused through commentary have been witnessed in cricket as the statements made by the commentators barely lasted a ball to prove them wrong.

Here are five instances in International Cricket where the individuals were hit by commentator’s curse:

5. Michael Holding – Harbhajan Singh

A 121-run partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif for the 6th wicket rescued the Indian chase against England in the 2002 NatWest Final. Yuvraj’s dismissal brought Harbhajan Singh to the crease with India needing 59 from 50 balls. The equation came down to 48 from 40 balls in the 326-run chase. At this stage, Michael Holding questioned India’s tactics of sending Bhajji ahead of Zaheer Khan, who according to him is a powerful hitter and suited to the situation.

“I just wonder if India should have sent Zaheer Khan instead of Harbhajan Singh at this point. I consider him a powerful hitter of the ball and they need more than a run-a-ball. Don’t think they can depend on Mohammad Kaif alone to get most of the runs,” said Holding as Harbhajan Singh was set to face Paul Collingwood in the 44th over of the Indian innings.

A moment after Holding concluded his question, the off-spinner heaved Collingwood’s delivery over the deep square-leg fielder Ashley Giles. Soon, the West Indian felt that he got the answer to his question and was put into his place at the same time. “Well, that answers my question. That puts me back into my box as they would say,” reacted Holding on Harbhajan’s six.

4. Sunil Gavaskar – Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina made a return to the Indian team after a year during the T20I series against South Africa in 2018. In the first two matches, he scored 15 off 7 balls and a 24-ball 31 respectively. Raina, however, needed a big score to seal his place in the side again. The decider T20I in Cape Town offered him a great chance after Virat Kohli was ruled out due to a stiff back.

After early dismissal of the stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma, the left-handed duo of Raina and Shikhar Dhawan stitched a solid stand. Raina smashed five fours and a six on his way to a 27-ball 43. Dhawan struggled with his timing in the first half and was unsuccessful at his slog sweeps. Midway through the 10th over, Gavaskar spoke about timing the ball and said India will be left with 8 wickets even if they miscue and get dismissed at that stage.

“If I hit, great. If I don’t, if I mistime (the ball) so be it. There are still 8 wickets to come after this wicket is gone,” said Sunil Gavaskar on air after the 3rd ball in 10th over of Indian innings. On that very delivery, Raina chose Tabraiz Shamsi’s flighted delivery to hit down the ground. Raina timed it pretty well but the long straight boundary meant Farhaan Behardien completing a catch on the edge of the boundary-line at the long-on position.

Thus, Suresh Raina once again missed a chance to play through the innings despite getting a good start. India finished with 172/7 and sealed the game by 7 runs to win the T20I series. Raina’s quick-fire knock fetched him the player of the match award as well.

3. Ranil Abeynaike – Sourav Ganguly

India and Sri Lanka were on level terms during the 4-match ODI series in 2007 ahead of the final game hosted by Vizag. The home team needed to chase 260 in the game reduced to 47 overs. Opener Sourav Ganguly retired hurt in the very first over due to dizziness. He returned in the 15th over when India were two wickets down for 106 and the required rate was well under five.

India lost one more wicket a couple of overs later but Sourav and Yuvraj Singh guided the chase with a big partnership. India moved to 162/3 by 28th over which was being bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya. At this stage, the Sri Lankan commentator Ranil Abeynaike said taking on Jayasuriya won’t be that easy as the Indian batsmen have already hit four maximums.

“Sanath Jayasuriya is a very experienced bowler and he is going to bowl a trajectory where Indian batsmen can’t come down the track and attack him,” said Ranil Abeynaike at the end of the 2nd ball of the 28th over.

Less than a couple of seconds after Ranil’s statement, Sourav Ganguly took on the left-arm spinner and sent him into the stands. Abeynaike didn’t take Ganguly’s hit to the heart but his co-commentator Bruce Yardley tried to rub it in.

“Just as I say it, he comes down the track and a big hit. That’s gone all the way. Six runs,” said Abeynaike on Ganguly’s six. “That’s a fabulous shot from Ganguly. You set yourself up for that, didn’t you, Ranil. Ha ha,” came the reply from Bruce Yardley.

2. Ian Botham – Andrew Strauss

Sri Lanka didn’t get off to a good start to their England tour in 2006 as they were 0-1 down at the end of 2nd game of the 3-match Test series. But the Lankans won the final Test to draw the contest and followed it with a close win in the one-off T20I. The form of Sri Lankan openers powered them to the series-winning lead in the 5-match ODI series. The two teams then clashed off in Manchester as the home team looked for their first white-ball win over the Lankans in the season.

Sri Lanka seemed to be starting off well once again as Sanath Jayasuriya smashed three boundaries in the first four overs. All those three boundaries were hit towards off-side and hence, Andrew Strauss came up with a plan. Jayasuriya came to the striker’s end on the 5th ball of the 5th over bowled by Steve Harmison. Strauss put Jamie Dalrymple wide in front of square on the offside, a fielding position that didn’t go well with Ian Botham who was commentating along with Naseer Hussain for Sky Sports.

“Well, I think the field is absolutely, completely wrong. They’ve changed the field. They’ve brought fine-leg up. They’ve put a man out for a short wide long-hop. What is going on?” wondered Ian Botham at Andrew Strauss’ tactics.

But on the very first ball of the special field, Jayasuriya ended up smashing a long-hop straight to Dalrymple who was placed for the same shot. Botham got the answer pretty soon and felt he caused a “Commentator’s Curse”.

“There he is, the man out there for the short wide long-hop, and he gets it! Well done, Ian Botham!,” said Naseer Hussain after Jayasuriya got out. “Well there you go, the curse of the commentator. What is he doing out there? That’s what he’s doing, Nass. We’re going to bowl him a wide half-volley and he’s going to slap it straight to him, and he’s not gonna move,” replied Botham after understanding England’s move.

1. Mark Nicholas – David Warner

South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2016 didn’t get off to the best of starts as the Proteas were bowled out for 242 on the first day. In reply, an aggressive knock from David Warner put the Aussies on top. They smashed 105 in 21 overs without losing a wicket by stumps on the first day. The Australian openers Warner and Shaun Marsh continued the same on the second morning as the partnership crossed 150. Australia reached 156/0 by end of 35th over with Warner batting on 95 off 98.

Davey picked up a couple on the first ball of 36th over bowled by Dale Steyn as he reached 97. At this point, commentator Mark Nicholas reminded that Warner was never out in the 90s. Before this game, David Warner was in the 90s in Test cricket on 16 occasions and completed his ton every time. The other commentator, Shane Warne, was aware of Nicholas’ history of “curses” on air. Hence, the leg-spinner was a bit angry at Nicholas for bringing up Warner’s 90s stat.

Here’s how their conversation went:

Nicholas: “He moves to 97. Never been out in the 90s.”

Warne: “Mark, sorry, what did you just say then? You say he never been out in the 90s.”

Nicholas: “In a Test match he has never been out in the 90s.”

Warne: “Oh, no.”

On the very next ball, Warner edged Steyn’s delivery straight to the slip fielder Hashim Amla and had to walk back for 97. The dismissal left Nicholas scratching his head while Warne stood up furiously.

“Disbelief everywhere, not in this room,” said Nicholas reacting to Warner’s dismissal. “Mark, you put the commentator’s curse on him,” reacted the legendary leg-spinner putting all blame on his colleague.