WATCH : Contender to rival Shane Warne’s “Ball Of The Century” is here

April 17, 2021 at 5:18 PM

Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire legspinner, became a social-media star on Friday after bowling a ball-of-the-century contender.

Legendary spinner Shane Warne’s “Ball of the Century” against England in the 1993 Ashes is a timeless wonder.

Australia’s Warne had England’s Mike Gatting all at sea with drift and spin, as he took the Englishman’s stumps on his very first delivery of the series. It’s a delivery that remains unrivalled. Or it did until Friday, anyway.

Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson decided to recreate almost the same delivery during their County match against Northampshire, at the same venue where Warne delivered the original – Old Trafford in Manchester.

Legendary spinner Shane Warne’s “Ball of the Century” against England in the 1993 Ashes is a timeless wonder. Australia’s Warne had England’s Mike Gatting all at sea with drift and spin, as he took the Englishman’s stumps on his very first delivery of the series. It’s a delivery that remains unrivalled. Or it did until Friday, anyway. Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson decided to recreate almost the same delivery during their County match against Northampshire, at the same venue where Warne delivered the original – Old Trafford in Manchester.

Bowling to Northampshire captain Adam Rossington, Parkinson tossed it up. The ball drifted to land outside leg and then spun in sharply to beat the batsman’s feeble attempt at defending it and hit off-stump.

Watch Parkinson’s wizardry here: