The Sydney Sixers have endured one of the more embarrassing moments this Big Bash League, when two of their stars had a horror mix up and allowed an easy catch to fall between them.
Veteran Dan Christian and wicketkeeper Josh Philippe were left looking at each other in an absolute blooper roasted by Fox Cricket’s commentators.
Cam Bancroft, on 28 and motoring alongside his captain Ashton Turner, attempted to sweep Stephen O’Keefe when he top-edged it.
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But what should have been a simple catch was absolutely fluffed by Christian and Philippe.
“Christian and Philippe look at each other – yours, no yours … no no no no,” commentator Mark Howard lamented.
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Aussie wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist was particularly disappointed in Philippe, who he believed should have been the player to commit.
“He’s got to go – he’s got the gloves on!” he said.
“You’ve just got to commit to that – you’ve got the wicketkeeping gloves on. It’s that simple.
“The home crowd are loving it! They are enjoying this.
“That should have been shallowed – that’s a keeper’s catch.”
Commentator Mark Waugh feared the crowd noise at Perth Stadium could have confused both Christian and Philippe, but said it was still no excuse.
“They didn’t communicate,” he lamented.
“You can’t afford that.
“That’s a big blow that one. Philippe looked like he was going towards it, then he’s pulled out. Christian’s (saying) ‘I saw you go’.
“(Philippe) did commit to that – not sure what made him stop. Some sort of curse being put on the Sixers here.”
The horror over only continued when Ben Dwarshuis misfielded on the boundary, allowing it to go for four, while Moises Henriques was unable to run out Bancroft – even though he was fielding inside the ring and the ball was hit straight to him.
Izharulhaq Naveed then put down Ashton Turner in the 16th over in what Waugh called their “last chance”.
“He never looked like taking it to be honest,” Waugh said.
“You just can’t drop sitters … and expect to win.
“The Sixers have had chances and just let themselves down.
The Sixers weren’t the only team to struggle in the field, with Aaron Hardie dropping two catches in the field for Perth and Andrew Tye in game 100 dropping Moises Henriques.
