Greg Davidson has pulled a fast one on Rashid Khan.
The Adelaide Strikers are still the only undefeated team left in the BBL this season after the Melbourne Renegades capitulated to an 18 run loss at Marvel Stadium.
The Renegades had the game well in hand but three wickets in the 12th over changed the match with the defending champs staring down an early finish to their BBL campaign.
But a hilarious moment had stolen the spotlight late in the game.
Umpire Greg Davidson has pulled the classic umpiring trick out on one of the biggest stages in Australian domestic cricket.
As Rashid Khan continued his masterclass with 2/15 off four overs, a ball hit Beau Webster with the ball smacking into the pads.
He started to give him out but realised there was an inside edge, bailing to scratch his nose.
Cameron White was on the mic and said he probably changed his mind as it was going on.
"The old itchy nose, at least he got it right I guess," White said. "He just said someone told him there was a noise and also that he had a bit of an itchy nose."
But Khan had already turned around and was celebrating the wicket.
The commentators were laughing about the moment but it seemed to shock the Strikers.
Man of the match Rashid Khan said he didn't know how it wasn't given out but saw on the replay that Davidson had changed his mind.
Davidson told Fox Cricket he changed his mind on a gut feeling as he was putting the finger up.
Social media was quick to react.
That’s all-time umpiring. Incredible. You’d be filthy if that happened in the backyard. #BBL09
But it was about to get worse with the next ball, Marcus Harris was caught on the boundary.
"What is going on with the Renegades," Mel Jones asked.
"I'll tell you what's going on Mel," Michael Vaughan said. "This is dumb, this is dumb, this doesn't get any dumber. The last two balls, what we've seen, kids out there, don't copy this."
Dan Christian was then caught short, with the Renegades losing three wickets in the one bizarre over.
The Strikers set 6/155 on the back of opening batsman Philip Salt with a 26-ball 55 while 41 off 37 balls for Alex Carey took him to the top of the BBL batting charts.
Updates
'All-time umpiring' troll divides BBL
Umpire Greg Davidson has pulled the classic umpiring trick out on one of the biggest stages in Australian domestic cricket.
As Rashid Khan continued his masterclass with 2/15 off four overs, a ball hit Beau Webster with the ball smacking into the pads.
He started to give him out but realised there was an inside edge, bailing to scratch his nose.
Cameron White was on the mic and said he probably changed his mind as it was going on.
"The old itchy nose, at least he got it right I guess," White said. "He just said someone told him there was a noise and also that he had a bit of an itchy nose."
The Melbourne Renegades appeared to be headed for victory but back-to-back brain fades have made the equation tougher.
Aaron Finch scored his 2000th BBL run, the second to reach the mark behind Chris Lynn, before bringing up his first 50 against the Strikers, making it a perfect set.
But it was about to get worse with the next ball, Marcus Harris was caught on the boundary.
"What is going on with the Renegades," Mel Jones asked.
"I'll tell you what's going on Mel," Michael Vaughan said. "This is dumb, this is dumb, this doesn't get any dumber. The last two balls, what we've seen, kids out there, don't copy this."
Dan Christian was then caught short, with the Renegades losing three wickets in the one bizarre over.
Strikers set 6/155
The Adelaide Strikers have made 6/155 after the Melbourne Renegades kept the visitors quiet after a lightning start.
Opening batsman Philip Salt finally got going in the competition with a 26-ball 55 but it was hard work for the rest of the side.
41 off 37 balls for Alex Carey took him to the top of the BBL batting charts, while Rashid Khan chimed in with a 16-ball 25 cameo late in the innings.
Kane Richardson too 4/33 for the Renegades, while Cameron Boyce's 2/18 off 4 overs arguably had him the kip of the bowlers.
Strikers XI: Jake Weatherald, Philip Salt, Matt Short, Alex Carey (c), Jonathan Wells, Cameron White, Rashid Khan, Cameron Valente, Peter Siddle, Wes Agar, Billy Stanlake
Peter Siddle has decided to step aside from international cricket and Test captain Tim Paine has offered some touching words for the retiring star.
But he also dropped another zinger about the star's teeth.
"We were keen to have him around our group, he's one of the best team men we've ever had," Paine said.
"We played some under-age cricket together, he hasn't changed a bit. Except the new teeth he got," Paine joked.
"He played the game like he did in his last Test match like he played his first Test match, he left everything out on the field. I just think he played cricket the way it was meant to be played."
On Channel 7, Ricky Ponting and James Brayshaw gave Siddle some bananas, due to his well known penchant for the fruit.
“From the moment that I saw Peter Siddle, I just wanted to have him in my team every single game,” Ricky Ponting added.
Congrats to the Aust cricket team on big series win over the Kiwis and to Peter Siddle on a super career. All the action captured beautifully on @FoxCricket. Bring on the SCG test where the Aussies will look to dominate again.
With Australia’s pace attack obliterating New Zealand, Peter Siddle saw no way back into the XI. So at 35 and with 67 Tests to his credit, one of the national side’s fiercest toilers over more than a decade simply decided to call time.
After telling coach Justin Langer on Boxing Day, he announced it on Sunday.
Siddle made his Test debut against India in 2008, his first delivery a bouncer which struck batsman Gautam Gambhir in the head.
His maiden wicket was that of the great Sachin Tendulkar. The 220 scalps that followed for the Traralgon-born quick made for a total bettered by just a dozen Australians in more than 140 years.
He earlier this month earned one last international call-up – to Australia’s extended squad for the second Test against New Zealand in Melbourne.
He was training with the team as recently as Christmas Eve but was released back to Big Bash duties after selectors opted to go with James Pattinson in an XI which has so far proved comfortably superior to their opposition.
Siddle was a key part of Australia’s pace attack as it transitioned from the shadow of Glenn McGrath to the current battery of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pattinson. “The young guys are amazing players, they’re killing it, so it’s only going to get harder for me,” he said on Sunday. “I’m very content with the career I’ve had. As a young kid I never thought I’d play one, let alone 67.”
Siddle remains the last of nine Australian men to take a Test hat-trick, famously achieving the feat on his 26th birthday at the Gabba during the 2010-11 Ashes and after battling his way back into the side following a back stress fracture.
Siddle will play out the Sheffield Shield season for Victoria and continue in the BBL with the Adelaide Strikers. He will also return to England next year to play county cricket with Essex. Siddle will look to add to his 603 first-class wickets at an average of 27. – with AAP
