‘Craziest wicket ever?’: Never-before-seen run-out stuns cricket world

As a batsman you have to always be on your toes, with multiple ways to lose your wicket, but this one is excusable.

A truly one-of-a-kind run-out has occurred in a game between the England U19 and South Africa U19, however, questions have been raised about whether or not he should have been given out.

The incident took place in the first unofficial Test between England U19 and South Africa U19.

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And in a run-out that takes the cake for both the most bizarre and unluckiest dismissal of 2025 to date, England batter Aaryan Sawant was sent packing after his sweep shot ricocheted off a fielder at forward short-leg and fired back onto his stumps.

The batsman had only slightly moved outside of his crease but the strange chain of events saw him dismissed.

Video of the incident, which you can watch above, unsurprisingly went viral with the ball seemingly hitting the short-leg’s helmet.

One of the most unlucky run-outs ever occurred in the first unofficial Test between England U19 and South Africa U19. Image: X

However, the South African side told the umpires that the ball struck the fielder’s kneecap.

The fielder at short-leg Jorich Van Schalkwyk went down after the blow and barely moved, before pointing to his knee as he got up.

Vision of the incident appears to show the ball struck the top of his helmet, which if the case means he likely should not have been given out.

Since it was an unofficial Test, the game falls under the Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) guidelines which state: “If the ball strikes a player on the head, irrespective of whether they are wearing a helmet, then a dead ball should be called immediately. Either umpire can do this.

“The dead ball should be called, irrespective of the apparent significance of the force with which the ball strikes the player e.g. even if it is what might ordinarily deemed a ‘slight, glancing deflection’.”

However, one South African fan said on X that the camera angle was deceiving and the ball had indeed ricocheted off his left knee and not the helmet.

But we will leave that for you to decide as regardless it was given out and therefore will go down as one of the most bizarre dismissals that has since been labelled as the ‘craziest wicket ever’ on social media.

“The craziest wicket EVER?! Run out off the helmet of a short-leg fielder. Yes, you read that correctly,” England’s Barmy Army wrote on X.

“Never seen something like this before,” another said.

While a third commented: “Absolute first for me! Hope the short leg was fine. The batsman will be salty (rightfully so) but what a story for the future!”

Originally published as ‘Craziest wicket ever?’: Never-before-seen run-out stuns cricket world