Flashback: Both captains getting run out in same Test
Players getting run out in a game of cricket is common. Confusions or mishap between the two on-field batters, many a time, leads to one walking back to the dugout. When the batters make errors, the opposition fielders take advantage of it in the best way possible and try to get them off the field to provide their side with the breakthrough.
But how often have we seen the captains of both teams getting runout in a game of Test cricket? Such occasions are very rare, and on that note, let us look at instances when both skippers got run out in the same game.
Bevan Congdon (New Zealand) and Intikhab Alam (Pakistan), 1973
In the first Test of the Pakistan tour of New Zealand in 1973, the captains of both sides were dismissed run out. After confusion between Intikhab Alam and lower-order batter Saleem Altaf, the former had to walk back scoring mere 16 runs. When New Zealand started their innings with the bat, confusion between opening batter Glenn Turner and skipper Bevan Congdon led to the latter’s run out.
Geoff Howarth (New Zealand) and Greg Chappell (Australia), 1982
Back in 1982, the Greg Chappell-led Australian side toured New Zealand for a three-match Test series. In the second match of the series, both the skippers were run out in the first innings. Australia batted first and Chappell was dismissed for 32(36). When New Zealand started their first innings, skipper Geoff Howarth was run out scoring 56(109).
Steve Waugh (Australia) and Shaun Pollock (South Africa), 2001
South Africa toured Australia for a three-match Test series in 2001. In the second Test in Melbourne, South Africa posted 277 in the first innings. Australia in response did tremendously well but skipper Steve Waugh was run out by Herschelle Gibbs for 90. In the second innings, Australia’s Damien Martyn contributed to Proteas skipper Shaun Pollock’s runout as the latter was dismissed scoring mere 18 runs off 26 deliveries.
MS Dhoni (India) and Ricky Ponting (Australia), 2010
The Mohali Test remains to be one of the most memorable games played by the Indian side. During Australia’s tour of India, MS Dhoni was leading India while Ricky Ponting was in charge of the visiting side. A brilliant throw from Suresh Raina led to Ponting’s dismissal. In the final innings, when India were chasing 216, Ben Hilfenhaus’ throw led to skipper Dhoni getting runout.
Babar Azam (Pakistan) and Ben Stokes (England), 2022
This is the most recent occurrence of both the skippers getting run out in a Test match. In the third Karachi Test, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against England. Babar Azam, who walked out to bat at No. 4, scored a valiant half-century, but Harry Brook perfectly threw the ball towards wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who collected it brilliantly and runout the Pakistan skipper. In England’s first innings, a mishap between Stokes and Brook led to both of them ending up at the same end, resulting in the former’s dismissal.
