VIDEO | Australia's Djali Bloomfield bizarrely left 'shocked' after umpire rules Gunathalika out
For the sole reason of it throwing interesting scenarios, scintillating individual displays and unusual incidents, warm-up matches are always interesting. In the warm-up match between Sri Lanka and PM XI in Canberra today, pacer Bloomfield was bizarrely left shocked despite taking a wicket.
Warm-up matches are always fun, thanks to them usually being played in a light-hearted manner, and when they are played under lights with television coverage, it becomes all the more interesting. Ahead of their three-match T20 series against Australia, Sri Lanka locked horns with Australia's Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra today.
The PM XI had a mix of youth and experience, with veterans Peter Siddle, Daniel Christian and Fawad Ahmed featuring amidst a pool of youngsters in the form of Jason Sangha, Mackenzie Harvey, Harry Nielsen etc. One such youngster who was looking to make his chance count was pacer Djali Bloomfield, who was looking to peg back the Lankans by taking early wickets up front.
On the fifth ball of the second over, Bloomfield bowled a good-length delivery outside off-stump to Sri Lanka's Danushka Gunathalika, who was coming fresh off his exploits in Pakistan. Seeing the line and length, Gunathilaka's eyes instantly lit up and the left-hander went for an extravagant cut shot. However, all he could manage was a swing and a miss and as the ball passed his bat, it seemed like there was a faint nick.
Hearing the noise, keeper Nielsen instantly went up in celebration and the on-field umpire raised his finger in a flash. However, what followed next was one of the more bizarre moments in recent memory, as Bloomfield, the bowler, in fact, looked shocked and disappointed - more than the batsman himself - when the umpire raised his finger.
As the ball passed the bat, Bloomfield felt that there was no edge and hence gave a quirky smile to the batsman and did not appeal, but as he turned around, was shocked to see the umpire raise his finger. Bloomfield paused for a second and it took a good few moments for him to realize that he had actually taken a wicket. Â
In cricket, there are good guys, nice guys and there here we have Mr. Djali Bloomfield, who seems to be the nicest guy ever. Give him the Sportsmanship award of the year already.Â
No appeal, no worries for local quick Djali Bloomfield!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 24, 2019
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