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Watch: Worst delivery ever? – When McCullum received a bizarre throw from frustrated WI quick

Powell McCullum
by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Watch: In what is arguably the worst ball of all time, West Indies quick Daren Powell chucked a wayward throw at New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum from his bowling stride during the Napier Test between the two sides in 2008.

On a tour that brought to the fore the rising indiscipline in the West Indies camp (Kieron Pollard, for one, was reprimanded for smashing a dressing room glass door), Powell lashed out in rage at umpire Mark Benson on day two, after a leg-side deflection off Ross Taylor was not acknowledged. Later in the day, in another tempestuous moment, he ran past the bowling crease against the advancing batsman McCullum, and hurled the ball maniacally on the side of the pitch.

McCullum could only watch, as the ball bounced and sprang off towards Chris Gayle at first slip, and was intercepted by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. Umpire Rudi Koertzen promptly raised his hand and called it a no-ball, after which McCullum was seen having a mid-pitch exchange with Powell.

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“What is that…no, what is that?” commentator Tony Cozier was heard on-air after Powell executed the lunatic stunt. “I don’t know what’s going on. That typifies the frustration of the West Indies. I just cannot stand this.” Captain Chris Gayle promptly removed Powell from the attack.

After the day’s play, Powell went to the New Zealand camp and gave an “unreserved apology”, and match referee Javagal Srinath didn’t sanction him under the code of conduct.

Years later, video of the incident has resurfaced on social media via Rob Moody’s Twitter account. Even if you have come across it before, it’s worth having another look:

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