Random Cricket Photos Post 111



#RandomCricketPhotosThatMakeMeHappy

A dismissal that caused a traffic mess, apparently.

The beginning of the end had begun for Ian Botham as we entered the last decade of the 20th century. In the 5th Test against West Indies in 1991, Botham's career received a fresh lease of life as he was given another chance by the selectors. Having scored an uncharacteristic 31 in his comeback bid, Botham lost both his balance and wicket trying to hook an Ambrose delivery. He dislodged a bail while trying to avoid the stumps and was out hit wicket.

It should have ended there. But that, was the beginning of the drama.

In the Test Match Special commentary box, Jonathan Agnew remarked in all innocence that 'He just didn't quite get his leg over'. Now that would seem an apt visual description of what panned out on the pitch but there's a little catch. 'Legover' is an euphemism for intercourse in the English language.

The remark set off Agnew's co-commentator Brian Johnston who just couldn't stop his laughter. And recognizing what he had allowed to go on air, even Agnew couldn't control laughing which went on for a good two minutes. It came to a point where Johnston, still laughing, pleaded Agnew, “Aggers, do stop it!”

Now, here's the more interesting part. It's said that just like the TMS duo couldn't stop their laughter, so did hundreds of people in their car on that evening. As a result, fearing they might lose control over the steering, a lot of cars pulled over with their driver still laughing hysterically on what they'd just heard on the radio. This is believed to have led to a veritable traffic mess, one of them being a 2-mile-long.

While the story is scarcely believable and could be apocryphal, it's definitely a fun one.

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