While the late, great Shane Warne undoubtedly produced the ‘Ball of the Century’ during the 20th century, Pakistan veteran Yasir Shah has laid claims to doing similar in the 21st century following his peach of a delivery against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle on Monday.
Yasir delivered his own moment of magic when he clean bowled Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis with a textbook leg-spin delivery that completely bamboozled the in-form right hander.
Similar to the efforts of Warne in Manchester some 29 years ago, Yasir’s delivery pitched outside leg stump before turning sharply to the left and clipping the top of Mendis’ off-stump.
It immediately brought back memories of Warne’s magical delivery to dismiss England veteran Mike Gatting during the first Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1993, with commentators making an instant comparison between the two deliveries.
While it will be difficult to surpass Warne’s stunning ball, Yasir certainly went close as he produced a delivery that is sure to be talked about over the coming years.
Let us know what you think of Yasir’s delivery via the ICC social media channels and how it rates in comparison to Warne’s ‘Ball of the Century’.
