WBBL match derailed as aggressive birds swoop Sydney Thunder fielders

A WBBL match between the Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes had to be temporarily suspended as frightened players ducked for cover.

Players duck for cover as the plovers swoop during a WBBL match. Pic: Fox Sports

Tuesday night’s WBBL match between the Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes had to be temporarily suspended as frightened players dodged a group of angry intruders.

Two adult plover birds caused the mayhem at Blacktown Oval in Sydney’s west as they aggressively protected their two chicks in the outfield.

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The swooping birds had their crosshairs firmly placed on the Thunder fielders who were forced to duck for cover.

“I can see that a few players are actually hitting the deck at the moment,” Thunder list manager Alex Blackwell said in commentary.

“A mum and dad plover, it looks like they’re protecting the chicks.

“The plovers are quite territorial and they lay their nest randomly out on the outfield.

“You’d expect a nest to be somewhere more protected but looks like the nest has been placed at short cover.”

Two Thunder fielders duck for cover as the birds swoop. Pic: Fox Sports

While the players appeared terrified by the protective plovers, they also clearly saw the funny side of the situation as their laughs were heard amid the screeches of the birds.

Blackwell, who previously played for the Thunder, said she found her own entertainment in the antics of the birds while playing in somewhat uneventful Test match for Australia.

“They’re trying to stamp their authority aren’t they these plovers, with the two chicks,” Blackwell said.

“I actually remember a day-night Test match where Elysse Perry got a 200.

“What kept us entertained was there was a plover at North Sydney Oval, so it’s not just at Blacktown, they can occur anywhere around Sydney.”

Players duck for cover as the plovers swoop during a WBBL match. Pic: Fox Sports

The plovers were protecting their young chicks in the outfield. Pic: Fox Sports

Plovers are known to be territorial and aggressive in certain parts of the year while defending their eggs and chicks from other birds and mammals.

Thankfully they eventually departed Blacktown Oval to allow the match to be completed, with the Hurricanes eventually emerging victorious by 49 runs.

Hobart now sit in third place on the WBBL ladder, while the Thunder are in last position with three losses from three games.

Pucovski benefits from baffling call

Meanwhile, Will Pucosvki has benefited from a truly baffling decision on the second day of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield contest against Western Australia on Tuesday.

Victoria put on a valiant 1/124 in response to Western Australia’s first innings total of 466.

But it was early on in the innings when Pucovski should have been making the slow walk off the field thanks to a brilliant delivery from WA quick Jhye Richardson.

In only the third over of the innings, Richardson pitched the third ball of his second over up and thanks to some late swing he completely deceived Pucovski as the ball thumped into his pads.

The entire slips cordon went up in unison as Richardson shouted in delight with his arms in the air as he turned around to finalise his appeal to the umpire.

Fair to say Jhye Richardson was *unlucky* not to have Will Pucovski out for a duck. ⬇️#SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/uAdVUowaa5

— Justin Edwards (@JEdwardsFOX) October 18, 2022

Somehow the index finger from the umpire remained glued to his hip as Pucovski survived on zero much to the disbelief of the WA players.

“Oh that one hit him low, it’s close but the umpire says no. I say low it kind of kept low,” one commentator said.

“Perhaps the umpire thinks it’s hit him outside the line of off-stump,” another said.

But it was when the replays rolled that the commentary box was left in amazement that Pucovski wasn’t given his marching orders.

“Oh dear I’m not sure why that wasn’t given out, that may have missed off and leg but I don’t think it was missing middle,” one commentator said.

Cricket fans watching on simply couldn’t believe the former Australian opener wasn’t sent packing with the ball looking like it was going to uproot middle stump.

Will Pucovski of Victoria bats during the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia at CitiPower Centre, on October 18, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia.

ABC’s Garrett Mundy wrote: “Will Pucovski absolutely plumb to Jhye Richardson and somehow not given out. Crazy.”

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “I mean it was certainly missing off and leg stump. Will Pucovski given a huge life before tea.”

Broadcaster Darren Parkin wrote: “Missing 2 of the 3 stumps at least.”

Channel 7’s John Hunt wrote: “Missing off, missing leg.”

Pucovski was eventually sent packing after being caught off the bowling of Lance Morris for 37 from 117 deliveries.

He put on a 104-run partnership with fellow opener Marcus Harris who remains unbeaten on 67.

Cameron Bancroft led the way for WA with 100, ahead of D’Arcy Short (87), Sam Whiteman (82) and Hilton Cartwright (70).

Originally published as WBBL match derailed as aggressive birds swoop Sydney Thunder fielders