Kolkata: Coordination is a very important skill while fielding – especially in T20 cricket. A number of cricketers have pulled off amazing catches, that would otherwise have gone for a six, due to coordination with their teammates.
However, the lack of coordination between Rising Pune Supergiant skipper Steve Smith and Ben Stokes almost led to the former injuring himself, at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
In the second last over of Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings against RPS, Nathan Coultier-Nile had hit a firmly struck shot, that seemed to be hurtling on its way for a six – by inches.
Fielders Stokes and Smith were in the vicinity, and were obviously attempting to conjure-up a wicket out of nowhere. Stokes had even managed to catch the ball while leaping over the boundary rope, and attempted to throw it back into the field of play.
Ben Stokes had actually caught the ball, before colliding with Rising Pune Supergiant captain Steve Smith. (Photo: BCCI)
However, Smith, who was also running in to take the catch, presumably did not see Stokes, and collided into the Englishman. In his momentum, the Aussie skipper went on to crash into one of the advertising boards behind the boundary.
Ben Stokes and Steve Smith collide while taking a catch at the Eden Gardens. (Photo: BCCI)
Ben Stokes and Steve Smith collide while taking a catch at the Eden Gardens. (Photo: BCCI)
While Stokes seemed unfazed from the collision, Smith stayed on the ground for a while, before gingerly getting up under the supervision of the team physio.
