It’s raining 6’s!

by Aaron Kumar… Being ticked off can make people respond in different ways, particularly in top level sport. I have however never seen a response quite as emphatic as the one by Yuvraj Singh of India against Andrew “Freddy” Flintoff (England), in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last year.

Flintoff was obviously annoyed that his team were having no joy against the Indian’s, so just before the second to last over of India’s innings he went up to Yuvraj and said a few words in a heated manner. In Cricket this is what you call “sledging” Yuvraj was clearly pissed off with whatever Flintoff said to him, as the Indian batsman furiously followed after a back pedalling Flintoff.

One mistake and you are gone, is the reality facing batsman at any level, with that in mind it seemed likely that a fired up Yuvraj would go for a reckless shot and commit cricketing suicide right? …. Wrong, what followed was some of the most unbelievable scenes in the history of the game. Flintoff looked as though he was ready to cry his eyes out, but he can take some consolation from the fact that he is most likely the catalyst to one of the most amazing feats to be achieved in the sport.
Stuart Broad, a young England opening bowler, ran in to bowl to Yuvraj first ball of the second to last over, …. Crash! The ball went way back into the crowd for a towering six one of the biggest of the tournament. Ravi Shastri the commentator seemed more fired up than Yuvraj himself “CRUNNNNCHING SOUND as the ball hit willow”.

So Yuvraj hits the first ball over for a six, now he has got rid of all his frustrations right?… Wrong the next ball of the over goes for another maximum two sixes from two ball!
Broad clearly getting the backlash of Yuvi’s anger looks quite dazed by it all, as he runs in again… same result this time. Yuvi smashes him for a six this time on the off side over extra cover, one of the hardest shots in the game! Three in a row!
It was getting desperate, now Broad tried bowling from the other side of the wicket, Yuvraj was late on the shot! But such was his confidence the big man still slashed the ball over third man for another six, now people were starting to talk about the seemingly impossible. Shastri clearly thought it was on“he has the license, now to go for the full Monty, six out of six”
Who are we to argue with Ravi? Yuvi smashed the 5th ball of the over for a six, perhaps the biggest of the over .
Hitting 6 6s in an over is such a rare feat (it had only been done three times before and never against a main International team), that one would expect some tension before the final ball off the over. However, there was no doubt on this occasion where the 6th ball of the over was going! And that was the same place as the previous five , Yuvi launched the final ball of the over for yet another towering six.
My favourite part about this was Yuvi’s body language , having just completed one of the most amazing feats in the game he hi5’s his captain before turning towards Flintoff and letting rip as if to say “who is the daddy?”
About 5 minutes on from Flintoff’s outburst Yuvi had achieved something spectacular, yet all that was on his mind was making sure Flintoff saw the fireworks!

Well done Freddy you helped create history!

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