The story of the historic day in 2000 when in a shocking twist - a groundsman won the man of the match . the south African who is the greatest groundsman cricket has ever seen.
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During the 2000, New Zealand tour of South Africa. The series was a full of disappointment as rains somehow Cancelling and shortening nearly all the games.
By the time the tests matches rolled around with south Africa making a mockery out of the injured new zealand
The last test was scheduled to be the most disappointing one yet
As The pitch would be flooded with a day full of rains
Not stopping till the wee hours of the morning.
however Chris Scott would somehow
manage to dry a flooded pitch in just a few hours, allowing a match to proceed.
Back then when using air blowers, hair dryers and pedestal fans to dry the pitches was the norm. Sometimes even helicopters were deployed.
Chris Scott and his team had pulled off a miracle.
Wanderers was ready to play
South Africa would use the lifeline to quickly take out new Zealand in a few sessions
But then on would come rain again
Washing out 2 days
But once again
On the last day
Chris Scott would work his magic
Making the impossible possible
Drying out the pitch by the start of the last day
But then
It once again be disappointment
As South Africa would bat the day out, and Boeta Dippenaar would score a century.
The game ultimately ending in a dull draw
The though Captain Shaun Pollack would come under fire in the post-match conference for wasting the day away
There would be another person who would be dealing with his own situation. It was match referee Ted Wood.
He was supposed to decide the man of the match.
Nad rather then giving it ti the centurian
He would shockingly award it to the people who had spent most of the time bent down on the pitch - actually working his heart out
Ted Wood gave the man of the match to Chris Scott and his team.
& that would still be a small example of the impact he has had on cricket
Such would be his contribution that
He was made a mascot, a model for South Africa’s 2003 world cup.
He was also sent as a consultant around the world, correcting problematic pitches.
Making sure that under him only one more test would draw at wanderers
And 3 out of 5 highest odi scores
Would happen on that ground
#cricket #legend #story
23 фев 2024
