Kent batsman Sean Dickson out handling the ball

One of the rarest dismissals on the cricket field and perhaps the most unfortunate for any batsman is handling the ball. Kent batsman Sean Dickson became the 60th man in the history of first-class cricket to be dismissed handling the ball.

During the Division Two of the English County tournament, South African batsman Sean Dickson, tried to stop the ball from hitting the stumps and in the process was adjudged handling the ball. Playing for Kent against Leicestershire at Grace Road, Dickson was dismissed on a duck after facing 8 balls.

Dickson chopped down on a full delivery from Ben Raine before the ball started to trickle slowly back towards his stumps. Despite having ample opportunity to kick the ball away or hit it with his bat, Dickson leant down and stopped the ball with his right hand.

Leicestershire wicket-keeper and the Irish international Niall O’Brien appealed immediately that forced the on-field umpires, Steve Gale and Russell Evans to come together and get to a decision. Dickson is just the second Kent player and the first since George Bennett in 1872 to be dismissed handling the ball.

The incidences of handling the ball are very rare in cricket. Only 60 players have been adjudged out this way in first-class cricket and International cricket has seen an even fewer number of players been dismissed handling the ball. Only 10 cricketers have been dismissed handling the ball in international cricket. Michael Vaughan, the former English skipper, who was dismissed handling the ball in a game against India in 2001, saw the lighter side of the story. He tweeted:

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