5 Instances When Spectators Were Hit By A Batsman's Six

One of the biggest joys of watching a cricket match live from the stadium, is you see the likes of Chris Gayle, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag, and other big hitters of the game, smash the ball into the stands.

But often that leads to tragic incidents where spectators proceed to get hit by the hard leather.

Here’s a look at 5 instances where spectators were hit by a batsman’s six:

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Cameron White’s smacks six on a spectators face, Vizag 2010

The 2010 three-match ODI series between hosts India and Australia turned out to be a damp squib as two of the three games got washed out due to inclement weather.

It was only in the second ODI at Vizag that we finally got to see some cricketing action. The match which saw Shikhar Dhawan make his 50-over debut turned out to be a high-scoring affair with India eventually prevailing thanks to a 121-ball 118 by Virat Kohli.

Australia batted first and on the back of an unbeaten 111 by Michael Clarke posted 3-289 in 50 overs. Cameron White’s whirlwind 49-ball 89 was instrumental in Australia eventually getting to 289. White hit six monstrous innings during his knock but unfortunately, one of those sixes went on to smash a spectator, who was sitting in the first row, straight on his face.

David Miller’s six leaves a police constable with one eye, IPL 2015

‘Killer Miller’ is what David Miller is famous for, among his fans. Miller earned that nickname due to his penchant for stroking monstrous sixes.

Miller was demonstrating that same during a 2015 Indian Premier League fixture between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens when, in a tragic turn of events, one his sixes went on to hit one of the security personnel straight on his right eye.

The 53-year-old security personnel was eventually left visually impaired for life. Miller later expressed his regret about the mishap and tweeted out an apology to him for the same.
The incident and its ramifications have been terrible. I wish this was not true – I am sorry for Mr Aich’s irreversible loss and wish him the best recovery possible.”

Hamish Rutherford’s six hits a spectator on his head, Dunedin 2013

New Zealand and England locked horns in a Test match at Dunedin in early 2013. England were bundled out for 167 in the first innings.

In reply, New Zealand got off to a good start. Hamish Rutherford was batting on 38 when he decided to take Monty Panesar to the cleaners, much to the ignominy of a spectator who was busy chatting with his friend and had no interest in what was going on on the field.

Rutheford went down on one knee and went on to smoke Panesar for a six towards long-on and even as the commentator kept shouting ‘Look out son’, there was nothing that could save the spectator from getting smashed on his face.

Chris Gayle’s six breaks a girl’s nose, IPL 2012

The ‘Universe Boss’ was at its swashbuckling best during a 2012 IPL fixture between Pune Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Chris Gayle stroked a whirlwind 48-ball 81 but during his knock, a tragedy struck when one of his many sixes struck a young ten-year-old girl straight on her nose.

When Gayle got to know about the incident, he made it a point to visit the girl in the hospital. He later recounted his conversation with the ten-year-old during a press conference.

“Her first words were that I should not be sad, ‘It was a very touching moment for me and I wished her a speedy recovery. She told me to keep hitting sixes and not to worry.”

Post his visit, Gayle also proceed to tweet where he wrote-

“Thanks! Really amazing game-that’s #IPL. Visit Tia who got hit by 1 of my sixes, broken nose (her 1st word to me is to Chill. She’s fine!)”. Vijay Mallya and his son Siddhartha, owners of Team Bangalore, also visited her past midnight.

Sourav Ganguly busts open a spectator’s head

One of the most brutal instances of a spectator getting hit by a cricket ball took place during the 2002 Test match between India and England at Leeds. Batting first on what was a green top, India, courtesy a gritty 68 by Sanjay Bangar and a masterly 148 by Rahul Dravid, had asserted themselves into a position of strength at stumps on day 01.

But with the scoring rate low, India needed to up the ante, which is exactly what Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar did on the following day. Ganguly, who scored a whirlwind 128 took the English attack to the cleaners. He was particularly brutal against Ashley Giles, regularly advancing down the track to hit him for monstrous sixes.

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One such six, however, proved to be very painful for an English spectator. It all happened in the 146th over of the Indian innings when Ganguly decided to dance down the track and smoke Giles over the long-on boundary. A spectator thought that he was good enough to catch the ball but instead he missed it altogether, paving way for a stream of blood rush through his forehead. ‘Oh! It was a painful sight’.

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