The real Darren Sammy
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the first Test between India and West Indies in Delhi
S Aga
09-Nov-2011
Rahul Dravid was cleaned up by what was arguably the ball of the Test • AFP
The ball
West Indies needed an early wicket to have any chance of victory and they got it with what was probably the delivery of the match. A hint of reverse-swing and sharp movement off the pitch for Fidel Edwards, and an expansive drive from Rahul Dravid. The ball sneaked through the gap between bat and pad to rattle the stumps. By the time the next wicket arrived though, the horse had bolted.
West Indies needed an early wicket to have any chance of victory and they got it with what was probably the delivery of the match. A hint of reverse-swing and sharp movement off the pitch for Fidel Edwards, and an expansive drive from Rahul Dravid. The ball sneaked through the gap between bat and pad to rattle the stumps. By the time the next wicket arrived though, the horse had bolted.
The wait
Two balls before, Tendulkar turned down a single to fine leg. At that stage, convinced that he had one eye on the century, Darren Sammy went up to Bishoo and asked if he wanted to go round the wicket and target the rough. The bowler asked for a couple more deliveries over the wicket. Tendulkar missed one, and as a stadium and people in front of TV sets across a nation froze, Rod Tucker lifted the finger.
Two balls before, Tendulkar turned down a single to fine leg. At that stage, convinced that he had one eye on the century, Darren Sammy went up to Bishoo and asked if he wanted to go round the wicket and target the rough. The bowler asked for a couple more deliveries over the wicket. Tendulkar missed one, and as a stadium and people in front of TV sets across a nation froze, Rod Tucker lifted the finger.
The dismissal
With just a run needed, the crowd was in good voice as Darren Sammy stood at the top of his run-up. Yuvraj Singh had 18, and the opportunity to hit the winning runs. Instead, a ball angled in from round the wicket kept low and went through a gap nearly as wide as the Grand Trunk Road. With Virat Kohli waiting on the sidelines, it wasn't how Yuvraj wanted to end a Test.
With just a run needed, the crowd was in good voice as Darren Sammy stood at the top of his run-up. Yuvraj Singh had 18, and the opportunity to hit the winning runs. Instead, a ball angled in from round the wicket kept low and went through a gap nearly as wide as the Grand Trunk Road. With Virat Kohli waiting on the sidelines, it wasn't how Yuvraj wanted to end a Test.
The real thing
Asked about the skip-and-dance at the start of his run-up in the closing stages, Sammy spoke of how it was an expression of how much he enjoyed his cricket. "When I'm out there, the real Darren Sammy comes out," he said. The sense of joy is infectious. Now, it needs some results.
Asked about the skip-and-dance at the start of his run-up in the closing stages, Sammy spoke of how it was an expression of how much he enjoyed his cricket. "When I'm out there, the real Darren Sammy comes out," he said. The sense of joy is infectious. Now, it needs some results.