Bouncers have taken centre stage in the ongoing Ashes 2019. Recently, the English County cricket has observed very uniquely handling the short-pitched delivery. Former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen shared that video and adviced the Aussie batsmen to handle the lethal Jofra Archer like this.
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It was the match between Leicestershire and Durham at Chester-le-Street in County Championship Division Two. The 35-year-old Australian cricketer Mark Cosgrove was playing for Leicestershire who faced that delivery while the English pacer Ben Raine was bowling for Durham at the other end.
It was the short-pitched delivery outside the off-stump which Cosgrove tried to face after coming out from the crease. In the last moment, the left-handed batsman used his helmet to face that ball. After that ball struck on his helmet, it reached to the first slip fielder who easily grabbed that.
It was a unique experience for cricket fans. As the short-pitch delivery is currently hitting hard the batsmen, this incident has become a more talking point. It didn’t hurt Cosgrove as he saved his team in that game.
While Durham scored 544/9 (decl.) in the first innings, Leicestershire were all out on 236 runs in their first innings. In the following on innings, Leicestershire were batting on 363/8 till the end of that game. While Cosgrove scored 21 runs in the first innings, he scored 107 not out in the second innings.
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Mark Cosgrove played three ODIs for Australia in 2006. He scored 112 ODI runs (average 37.33), including his best knock of 74 runs on his international debut.
Aus batters How to play Jofra – Kevin Pietersen
Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen posted that short delivery video and jokingly adviced the Australian batsmen to face the English pacer Jofra Archer like this.
Since his international cricket debut, Archer has impressed with his lethal bowling performances. After his outstanding form in the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, he has recently made his Test debut.
During the Lord’s Test of Ashes 2019, Archer made his debut and shined with the ball in hand. In that game, he scared the Aussie batsmen with his lethal bouncers. It even badly hurt the in-form Aussie cricketer Steven Smith. Due to that blow, Smith missed out the entire final day of the Lord’s Test as well as the ongoing Leeds Test.
On the other hand, Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne and the English opener Jason Roy both received a blow on their helmets during their respective practice sessions. However, both were fine after facing the concussion tests.