In the light of MS Dhoni’s tactic last summer in England, where he stayed behind for the spinners, Worcestershire skipper pulled off one of his own in a NatWest T20 blast game against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road in Northampton. Defending a massive 213, the skipper asked the Keeper Ben Cox to bizarrely leave his position and be a fly slip in the 16th over of the innings which was bowled by Moeen Ali. The decision prompted the umpires to confer at length before the play resumed.
Later on, the Worcestershire team director was quoted saying that the tactic was ‘legitimate’ and was indeed an extension into MS Dhoni’s ploy the last time India played England.
The match itself was a high scoring one, which saw Worcestershire pile on 211 in their 20 overs of which Moeen Ali scored 90 and Northamptonshire replied with 197/7 falling short by 14 runs and remaining winless in the NatWest T20 blast this summer, but the game caught the eye of the world for the most innovative field placing by their skipper Daryl Mitchell.
