I've seen some weird stuff in cricket over the years, but this one takes the cake. Seriously. What happened in Thailand last week has to be one of the strangest tactical moves I've ever witnessed in my 15+ years following the sport.
When the weather forces your hand...
Picture this: UAE women's cricket team is absolutely demolishing Qatar in a crucial T20 World Cup qualifier. Their openers are cruising at 192-0 after just 16 overs. Absolute domination. But then... those dreaded dark clouds appear. Thunder rumbles in the distance. A few raindrops start falling.
Panic time.
If rain washes out the match, UAE might not get the win they desperately need to top their qualifying group. And in these tournaments, only ONE team advances to the next stage of Asian qualifying. Miss this chance, and their World Cup dreams are toast.
The "retire everyone" masterstroke
This is where UAE coach Ahmed Raza gets... creative. Unlike Test cricket, you can't declare your innings in T20. So what does he do? Convinces all TEN remaining batters to "retire out" without facing a single ball!
One by one, they walked out in full kit, touched their bats to the crease, and immediately walked back. The scoreboard operator must've been losing his mind. I can just imagine the Qatar players standing there thinking, "What teh hell are we watching right now?"
Did they seriously just...?
Yep. UAE went from 192-0 to 192 all out in the SAME OVER. Qatar's bowlers didn't take a single wicket, yet somehow the innings ended. Cricket statisticians around the world probably spilled their tea when they saw this scorecard.
I texted my cricket-obsessed buddy in Dubai about this. His response: "Most UAE thing ever. Thinking outside the box when it matters most!"
The gamble that paid off
Look, it was a risky move. What if Qatar somehow chased down 193? (Spoiler: they didn't even come close)
Qatar, ranked 52nd in the world, completely crumbled under pressure. UAE's bowlers ripped through them, bowling them out for just 29 runs in 11.1 overs. A crushing 163-run victory that keeps their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
God. I feel for those Qatar batters. That's the kind of collapse that gives you nightmares.
Coach's defense: "It's all within the laws"
Raza was quick to explain his unorthodox strategy afterward. "With the thunder and drizzle we just had to make sure the whole game was played," he said. The fear of a washout was real.
He'd actually checked with officials if they could declare (they couldn't) before asking the match referee about retiring everyone out. Smart thinking under pressure.
"Everything that happened was within the laws and was well communicated with the match referee," Raza insisted. "I meant no disrespect to anyone involved."
The coach also made a good point that we shouldn't forget the actual cricket achievements – that monster 192-run opening stand deserves recognition!
The long road to England 2026
This is just one step in what feels like an endless qualification process. UAE still needs to advance through the Super 3 stage of Asia's qualifying, then make it through the Global Qualifier to earn a spot in next year's T20 World Cup in England.
But if they're willing to pull stunts like this... who knows how far they might go?
I've watched cricket since 2008, adn I've never seen anything quite like this. The sport continues to surprise me, even when I think I've seen it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a standard game of cricket last?
The duration of the match can be quite variable. The game is played in three main formats. Test cricket can last for up to five full days. One Day International (ODI), or one-day matches, are played in a typical day. Each side is given a specific number of fifty overs. Twenty20 (T20), which is a shorter format, can be completed in three to four hours. Each team plays a single inning of 20 overs.
What are the responsibilities of a Captain in Cricket?
The captain of the cricket team plays an important strategic and leadership role. The captain is responsible for key decisions such as setting the batting order, determining fielding placement and when to use certain bowlers. A captain is the representative of the team, interacting with umpires as well as motivating and guiding players. Above all, a captain embodies the team's ethos and often makes tactical adjustments during the game to try to secure a win.
What are the fundamental rules of cricket?
Cricket is a team sport played by two 11-player teams. The goal of the game is to score runs for a team when they bat and dismiss batsmen when they bowl and field. Each team has a turn to bowl and bat. The two batsmen on the field score runs by running between the wickets and hitting the ball. Meanwhile, the bowling and defending team tries to stop this by limiting the number of runs. The team that has the most runs at the end is declared the winning team.
What is the function of an umpire?
Cricket umpires are responsible for the enforcement of rules, adjudication on all matters on-field, making decisions like whether a batter is out, signaling boundaries, wides, and no-balls as well as the start and termination of play. On-field umpires work in tandem, with one standing behind the stumps at the bowler's end and the other at square leg or side-on to the pitch. For certain appeals, they use their experience and judgment as well technological aids as the Decision Review System to ensure a fair and consistent application.
How do you prepare and maintain a cricket field?
For a cricket pitch to be suitable for use, it must be prepared and maintained with care. Groundsmen will flatten and level the pitch so that it is consistent in ball behavior. To maintain the pitch's hardness, it must be mowed, watered when necessary, and rolled using a heavy roller. During the course of a cricket series and match, grounds staff work to fix any damage caused by the bowlers' footmarks and make the pitch suitable for all the games.
Statistics
- As of January 2023, England holds the record for the highest team score in a One Day International (ODI) match, having scored 481-6 against Australia in 2018.
- Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the highest number of runs scored in international cricket, amassing 34,357 runs across all formats.
- The highest partnership in Test cricket is 624 runs, set by Sri Lankan batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006.
- Australia's Women's Cricket Team holds the record for the longest winning streak in ODIs, with 26 consecutive wins from 2018 to 2021.
- Australia's Margaret Peden holds the earliest recorded instance of a double century in women's Test cricket, scoring 204 runs against England in 1935.
External Links
How To
How to track the progress of a match in cricket
To follow the progress of a game, you must understand how it unfolds. Take note of the number and type of runs, wickets or overs. This information is used to determine the status of the match, such as whether it's evenly balanced or tilted in favor of one team. Track individual player performance, weather and pitch behaviour to get a better understanding. Stay up to date with the latest news and events by using live commentary and scores available on websites, apps and TV coverage.
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