The Ashes 2017/18: Watch: Groundsman Takes A Stunner During Warm-Up Game
Nov 18, 2017 at 10:53 AM
With England and Cricket Australia XI batsmen making merry on the batting paradise at Townsville, the spectators at Riverway Stadium, who were witnessing a rare top-level cricket match, did not have much to cheer about until a groundsman decided to take the responsibility of entertaining a sizable crowd with a stunning diving catch.
The highlight of the ongoing four-day warm-up match came on the final day courtesy of the groundsman, also showing England how it is done as the visitors went wicketless in the first session on Saturday, squandering several chances.
The incident occurred in the 70th over of the Cricket Australia innings when captain Matt Short lifted Mason Crane for a maximum. However, before the ball could land on the turf over the ropes, a groundsman came charging and took a diving catch, much to the delight of the crowd which had perhaps saved its loudest cheer for that very moment.
Here is a clip of that stunner:
https://twitter.com/PRINCE3758458/status/931748168567369728
The catch would have rubbed more salt on Crane’s wounds as the leg-spinner already had four catches dropped off his bowling in the game.
It looks like Mason Crane has kept a very close count of exactly how many dropped catches he's had off his bowling… pic.twitter.com/ZNO3iJDNIT
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 18, 2017
Meanwhile, after the way Short and teenager Jason Sangha toyed with England’s attack, it will be a worrying sign for the visitors. With less than a week remaining before the first Ashes Test, England would have surely wanted to finish the proceedings in Townsville on a high, but Short and Sangha dashed their hopes.
Last heard the home side was on 329 for 3 with both the batsmen reaching their centuries.