5 instances when a batsman had nine lives
Luck may not always be by your side, but when it is, you must ensure that you take full advantage of it. This is something that that is applicable to cricketers as well. In the case of batsmen, luck may come in the form of dropped catches, missed run-out chances or being dismissed off a no-ball.
While batsmen fail to capitalise on good fortune on several occasions, there are times when they make the most of it and make the opposition pay a heavy price. The most recent instance of a batsman making the most of his luck came in the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup.
West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons was caught twice off no-balls and made the Indian team pay for this by scoring an unbeaten 82 to lead West Indies to the final of the tournament. However, there have been a number of incidents in the past when batsmen have had major escapes and have utilised them to the fullest.
Here are 5 instances when a batsman had nine lives:
Graeme Hick - 83 vs South Africa, 1992 World Cup
One of England's greatest first-class cricketers, Graeme Hick, did not have the same amount of success in international cricket. However, he did play some fine knocks for his country in both Tests and ODIs. One of his more memorable ODI knocks was his 83 against South Africa in the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup.
Although the innings turned out to be a crucial one for England, Hick was quite lucky to have played for so long. The English batsman was facing South Africa's Meryck Pringle with his team tottering at 39 for 2 in the 8th over. An incoming delivery from Pringle caught Hick right in front of the stumps but the umpire ruled in the batsman's favour.
Graeme Hick edged the very next ball to the slips but survived again, courtesy of a no-ball signalled by the umpire. Hick's innings took England's score to 252, which proved to be a winning total as the South Africans fell prey to the controversial rain rule.