Like every other sport in the world and In history, cricket has had its share of comics and humor on the field. Ever since its start, the game of cricket has shown us some of the most entertaining of things on the cricketing field.
From passionate century and half century celebrations to dancing celebrations for dismissals, to exotic post win celebrations, we have seen it all in the game of cricket.
Cricket is amongst the most popular sports in the world, and for valid reasons. Those who regard cricket as a boring and lazy game are just the ones who have never watched it, because cricket gives you thrill, entertainment and humor. Cricket is no doubt a strict game with strict rules and regulations, but that doesn’t mean it deprives fans of a little bit of humor. It is a game with beautiful traditions and practices.
In 1995, emerged a young Kiwi from the outer world, apparently by the name of Billy Bowden. His real name was Brent Bowden, but was nick named “Step forward Billy”. Billy was a player in his early career, but unfortunately, couldn’t continue due to some medical issue known as Arthritis. The issue forced him to retire being just in his early twenties.
Bowden however, didn’t lose hope and began his career as an umpire. Some eccentrics are indeed born for every sport and are there just to dazzle and amaze the crowd. Billy Bowden has been just that. The sensational Kiwi umpire started gaining fame when he began signaling batsmen out with a crooked finger rather than the straight conventional one.
Bowden defied the cricket laws that read officials on the cricket field to be as reserve as possible. Billy added a wide array of funny gestures to all his umpiring signals on the field. His most famous signals include the “hope on one leg” for a six.
Here’s one moment from Billy Bowden’s famous career. It was an Australiavs New Zealand One Day International and Glen Mgrath was the bowler. Legendary bowler Mgrath seemed to be running on the pitch, to which Bowden warned him. But Mgrath, who himself has always been know to be a bit of a comic character, took a short start in the next ball and bowled a delivery in bowling alley style
