Sad pictures in cricket: One of the spectator sports that is most entertaining is cricket. The fans get excited when batters hit the bowlers for boundaries and sixes. The crowd applauds both the batters’ enormous sixes and the bowlers’ rapid bowling, especially when they bowl with accuracy and fury. The crowd applauds the fielders as well when they make incredible catches.
The sport is primarily about the entertainment value to fans. For players, it can be a means of earning money or a career option. Regardless of what the sport means to each individual, players are always affected emotionally by it. Some of the toughest players can be observed struggling to control their emotions in trying circumstances.
Sad pictures in cricket:
5. Steve Smith crying:
In 2018, when the famous cricket player was at the top of his game, he was the best Test batter. Both cricket experts and fans praised Smith’s batting skills. During their 2018 South Africa tour, the 34-year-old led the Australian team. The second Test levelled the series at one.
Three players were caught using sandpaper during the third Test match at Newlands: captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and batsman Cameron Bancroft. This was considered ball tampering. As the cricketers acknowledged their errors, the charges proved to be accurate.
The cricket world was rocked by the sandpaper gate incident, as fans struggled to accept that legendary players like David Warner and Steve Smith had been a part of the regrettable event. Cricket fans may find it difficult to forgive Steve Smith for his heartbreaking admission of guilt and apology to the fans during the press conference.
4. MS Dhoni’s run out:
It was the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal in Manchester between New Zealand and India. Due to the rain, the match was postponed to a reserve day. With 221 runs in the first innings, New Zealand scored highly. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson contributed to New Zealand’s competitive total.
Following the target, the Indian chase was in ruins as Trent Boult and Matt Henry combined to reduce them to 5/3. Moreover, India was at 92/6 and facing serious difficulties. The Indian innings was saved by a vital 116-run partnership between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja for the seventh wicket.
Jadeja took more chances as the needed run rate increased and ultimately lost his wicket. In an attempt to step it up, MS Dhoni was also dismissed by Martin Guptill with a brilliant direct throw, which ultimately proved to be his undoing. For Indian fans, the memory of Dhoni returning with a dejected expression never goes away.
3. Vinod Kambli crying:
It was the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the semifinal of the ODI World Cup 1996. With home advantage, crowd support, and a superior team on paper, India was the clear favourite to win the match. At the beginning of the game, it appeared that way as Javagal Srinath quickly reduced Sri Lanka to 35/3. Everyone in the crowd was standing.
Indian players Aravinda De Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Arjuna Ranatunga, Hashan Tillakaratne, and Chaminda Vaas contributed with the bat, but their joy was short-lived. Sri Lanka succeeded in scoring a formidable 251 runs in their 50 overs.
At one point, India was making good progress towards the target, scoring 98/1. For the fans, what happened next was shocking beyond belief. Thanks to an incredible collapse by the Indian batting team, India was quickly reduced from that point to 120/8.
The stadium’s patrons threw bottles as a way of expressing their displeasure at what had transpired. Referee Clive Lloyd halted the game in the middle, declaring Sri Lanka the winner. It was heartbreaking to see Vinod Kambli crying as he made his way to the dressing room.
2. Phillip Hughes’ coffin being carried:
In Sydney, South Australia and New South Wales were playing the Sheffield Shield. With runs from Callum Ferguson and Mark Cosgrove at the other end, opener Phil Hughes of South Australia was making good progress, scoring 63 runs in 161 balls.
Phillip Hughes was bowled a short ball by fast bowler Sean Abbott. The batter was unable to regain strength from the force of the ball’s impact. The batter was admitted to the hospital and sent for scans. Hughes’ untimely death was announced, shocking the cricket community.
The Australian cricket players lifted their close friend’s coffin during the cricketer’s funeral and witnessed his final resting place. Any cricket fan can lose their heart when they see Aaron Finch, Michael Clarke, and other players crying during the funeral.
1. AB De Villiers crying:
It was the 2015 ODI World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa in Auckland. South Africa scored a fantastic total of 281 runs in 43 overs during a game that was impacted by rain.
Even though the pitch was flat, it was very challenging to chase 298 in 43 overs using the D/L method, particularly in a semifinal where South Africa was destroyed by Brendon McCullum’s start, which saw him score 59 runs in 26 balls. Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott persisted in their attack on the South African bowlers. In the final moments of the match, South African players missed a lot of opportunities.
South Africa’s demise was partly caused by a few unsuccessful run-out attempts and a few fielders’ dropped catches. With the aid of Grant Elliott’s 84*(73), the Kiwis advanced to their first-ever World Cup final. One of the saddest pictures in cricket is of AB De Villiers sobbing after the game.
So, these were the top sad pictures in cricket. Also read, Virat & Anushka’s son Akaay name meaning decoded!
