5 Times When Stumps Were Broken In International Cricket

Aakash Saini

Jasprit Bumrah [Source: @ICC, @The_kafir_boy_2/x]Jasprit Bumrah [Source: @ICC, @The_kafir_boy_2/x]

Bowlers, especially the quicker ones, revel in the sight of a batter being clean bowled. Doing so by shattering the stumps only adds to the joy, bringing them an even greater delight. The sheer pace and precision required to dismantle the timber often make such moments truly unforgettable. Moreover, the sound of a broken stump at the point of contact with the speeding ball is nothing short of a melodious tune to a bowler’s ears.

Here, we take a look at five unforgettable instances where bowlers spectacularly broke stumps in international cricket.

5. Dale Steyn vs Mitchell McClenaghan, 2015

Shortly after the 2015 World Cup, a Kane Williamson-led New Zealand cricket team toured South Africa for a three-match ODI series. In the series-opening first ODI, South Africa mounted 304-7 from 50 overs courtesy of a regal 124 from Hashim Amla. Left to chase 305 for a 1-0 lead, the Kiwis had their batting line-up blown away by Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir.

Proteas pace icon Dale Steyn also nabbed two wickets of his own, including his stump-demolishing job on New Zealand number 10 Mitchell McClenaghan. Steyn’s cross seam delivery broke McClenaghan’s off-stump on a full length, leaving New Zealand nine down before the hosts wrapped up a 20-run victory at Centurion.

4. Nuwan Kulasekara vs Azhar Ali, 2012

Nuwan Kulasekara vs Azhar Ali, 2012 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]Nuwan Kulasekara vs Azhar Ali, 2012 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]

In the second ODI from Pakistan’s five-match tour of Sri Lanka back in mid-2012, hosts seamer Nuwan Kulasekara denied Azhar Ali of a well-deserved century during a tall chase in Pallekele. Kulasekara did so with much elegance as he broke Azhar’s leg stump into two through a near-perfect yorker when the Pakistani opener was aiming to make room for a boundary.

Ending Ali’s defiance at 96, Nuwan Kulasekara bagged one more wicket to keep the visitors down to just 204. Sri Lanka won the match by 76 runs to bring the series to levelling terms.

3. Umar Gul vs Owais Shah, T20 World Cup 2009

Umar Gul vs Owais Shah, T20 World Cup 2009 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]Umar Gul vs Owais Shah, T20 World Cup 2009 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]

Umar Gul sent down a near 140kmph thunderbolt to destroy the leg stump of English number four Owais Shah, doing so at the grand stage of the 2009 T20 World Cup at The Oval. Interestingly, earlier in the same Group B fixture, Gul also knocked over Luke Wright with a similar delivery to finish with figures of 2-37 from four overs.

Nonetheless, Shah’s attempt to pull a raging Umar Gul costed him dearly as he ended up making a long walk back to the dugout after scoring a near run-a-ball 33. Fortunately for the hosts, they won the match by 48 runs to advance to the next round of the competition.


2. Umesh Yadav vs Kyle Abbott, 2015

Umesh Yadav vs Kyle Abbott, 2015 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]Umesh Yadav vs Kyle Abbott, 2015 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]

Indian speed gun Umesh Yadav cannoned through South African tailender Kyle Abbott with a 137.1kph bullet in the fourth Test of the 2015 series. Chasing 481 runs for a consolation win, the visiting South Africans employed a cautious approach instead by maintaining an innings run rate of less than one-and-over.

Ab de Villiers and Hashim Amla both washed up 541 deliveries combined to score just 68 runs as the Proteas were confidently marching towards a hard-earned draw. However, Umesh Yadav cleaned up the South African tail with his pace and perseverance, picking up three quick wickets to set up India’s 337-run victory. The delivery he sent down to Abbott became one of the final nails in the coffin for the visitors, who flew back home with a 0-3 defeat.

1. Jasprit Bumrah vs Dushmantha Chameera, 2016

Jasprit Bumrah vs Dushmantha Chameera, 2016 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]Jasprit Bumrah vs Dushmantha Chameera, 2016 [Source: @cricketspring5455/YouTube]

Back in February 2016, i.e., during just the second month of Jasprit Bumrah in international cricket, the legendary Indian speedster channeled a commanding yorker to Sri Lankan tailender Dushmantha Chameera in a T20I match in Ranchi.

Defending 197 runs to level the three-match series in the second T20I, Team India ensured its victory by reducing Sri Lanka to 119-8 around the 18th over mark. A couple of deliveries later in the same over, Bumrah sent down a speeding and straight delivery to dismantle the top of Chameera’s leg-stump. The visitors finished their 20 overs at 127-9 to concede the match to an MS Dhoni-led India by 69 runs.