That match when Australia put 9 fielders in slip, know when and why they did so

9 Slips Australia vs Zimbabwe: In a test match, 3-4 players are often seen standing in the slips. So many slips are also placed when the ball is swinging a lot. But in the year 1999, an ODI match was played between Australia and Zimbabwe, during which not four or five but the captain had deployed all the players of his team in the slips except the wicketkeeper and the bowler.

This is the year 1999, when the Australian team was touring Zimbabwe. In the second ODI match of the series played on 23 October 1999, Zimbabwe came out to bat first. The host team had lost 9 wickets at a score of 98. David Mutendera came to bat at the 10th position. In those days Steve Waugh was the captain of the Australian team and Damien Fleming was sent to bowl against Mutendera. Captain Steve Waugh had deployed all 9 fielders in the slips to put pressure on Mutendera.

Why were 9 slips put?

Recalling that match, Damien Fleming had revealed in his book why Steve Waugh had done that. According to the book, Steve Waugh had told Fleming that by placing 9 fielders in the slips, he would get the cover page of his book. But later, Fleming did not print that picture on the cover page of his autobiography.

A similar incident was repeated during the European Cricket League in the year 2022. In the match played between Norway and Romania, the Norwegian captain had placed 9 fielders in the slips. This kind of fielding formation looks very strange and especially in limited overs cricket, this incident proves to be even more unique.

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