On the Old Trafford ground where Shane Warne bowled the “The Ball of the Century” in 1993, where Sri Lankan snipper Prabath Jayasuriya created a masterpiece by diminissing England’s Harry Brook style in his own way on Thursday.
On Thursday at Old Trafford, the same ground where Shane Warne delivered his iconic ‘Ball of the Century’ in 1993, Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya created a sensation of his own. Jayasuriya’s exceptional delivery dismissed England’s Harry Brook in a fashion reminiscent of Warne’s legendary bowl. Brook, who had been playing confidently with an unbeaten 53, was left stunned as Jayasuriya’s ball turned sharply and clipped the top of his off-stump, dismissing him for 56. Watch.
Brook’s Departure
At the tea break on the second day of the first Test, England had posted a score of 176-4, trailing Sri Lanka by 60 runs. Brook’s departure left the team at 187-5, still 49 runs behind Sri Lanka’s total of 236. Jayasuriya’s delivery, which dipped and spun sharply, was a pivotal moment in the match, showcasing his skill and potentially setting the stage for a dramatic series.
Warne’s Legacy
This delivery inevitably brings comparisons to Shane Warne’s famous first-ball dismissal of Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series. Warne’s ball, which pitched outside leg-stump and spun across Gatting to hit the off-stump, was so extraordinary that commentator Richie Benaud remarked, “Gatting has absolutely no idea what has happened to him — and he still doesn’t know.”
