After 25 days of rivetting Test match cricket, England needed more than a spot of Hundred to get a full-house engaged. To their rescue came, a darting fox, reminiscent of Jasprit Bumrah and Md Siraj.
With 72 runs needed at the Lord’s in the opening day match of Oval Invincibles and London Spirit in the Hundred, a majestic fox with a bushy tail, darted onto the field.
The opening match starred Rashid Khan, Sam Curran, David Warner, Kane Williamson and Ashton Turner. But the highlight of the day was the streaking fox.
The commentators on Sky Cricket, including Stuart Broad would describe the scenes. “A fox charges outside the outfield. Certainly a frontrunner. He’s a well fed fox. Just about to turn corner, front of pavilion. Can’t find its way out.
This is a first at the home of cricket. Not sure if it’s gone to exit if someone can help it out.”
The fox unable to find its way out, clearly rabbitted around as the Lord’s crowd cheered wildly. “How do you catch a fox, Broadie?”
“Never been asked that question.”
It would ultimately leap over a boundary board, prompting the commentators to say, “I tell you what we have gone from Ascott (race course) to Cheltenham (where hounds, horses leap over hurdles) to Lord’s.”
The publicised Hundred Cricket League started on 6 August at London’s historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, with the opener between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, though the loudest applause for reserved for the ferociously running fox with its tail parallel to the ground.
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Though no one hit the commotion button, it would have dawned on the players on the field that this was no mere dog, but a speciest upgrade pranking about them in a surreal scene.
When Oval Invincibles came to bat responding to the target of 81 runs set by home team, London Spirit, 9 runs had been scored. Daniel Worrall was about to bowl, when the fox suddenly appeared. The Invincibles went on to overhaul London Spirit’s modest target of 81 runs in just 69 balls and won by six.
As per Sky, Rashid Khan and Sam Curran starred with the ball, taking three wickets each to decimate the Spirit’s batting lineup that included stars like David Warner and Williamson.
The Indian Express reporter on the ground had spotted a fox on July 28, and noted, “Walk to accommodation after bus ride. There are lots of gardens in the area. See a small fox crossing road. Think eyes playing tricks, must be a dog. Find another little one is following. Was this London or Jungle Book? Next day take cab at night, spot another one. Cabbie says there are 10,000 of them in London. Is he serious? Yes, he was.”
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At Lord’s, where centuries get feted, one fox took centrestage.
