Going through the batt and pad to kiss the top of off stump is the kind of stuff every pacer dreams of ever since they hold a cricket ball. Aaron Hardie not only accomplished the fantasy but did so in a decider against arch rivals England with an unplayable inseamer, much to Will Jacks’ chagrin.
Phil Salt and Ben Duckett provided England a rollicking start at the County Ground in Bristol on Sunday as the duo racked up 58 runs in seven overs before the former holed out off Aaron Hardie after a rapid 45. Rven though the Duckett train kept marauding thereafter, Hardie provided his team some further respite with a ball for the ages.
Will Jacks first took strike in the ninth over and looked uncomfortable for the first three balls he faced, but it was nothing compared to what followed. Hardie pitched a ball on length outside offstump that hit the deck and ducked in like an off break to comprehensively pierce the huge gap between the Englishman’s bat and pad before flicking the bail on top of off stump.
Even the usually stoic Western Australian could not help but flash a huge smile out of pride of what he had pulled off and Twitterati approved.
Peach of a delivery
Jaffa
Gone!
Will jacks 😢
— Random (@RajTweett) September 29, 2024
@englandcricket what the hell is going on in 9th and 10th over..? Will jacks u able to take single and brook can’t open the account..? Pity on the batter’s poor show of power play as both they ruin the decent inning by salt.
— Subhash Marothya (@78bb6c4f51f848f) September 29, 2024
Keep him away
@/DineshKarthik please keep will jacks away from RCB 🙏🏻
— VISHU|#RETAINGREEN (@WAS_VISHU) September 29, 2024
Good soul
RCBian, the legend, Will Jacks refrained himself from causing damage to Australia, Mann. What a good soul! 😭#AUSvENG #AUSvsENG #ENGvAUS #ENGvsAUS
— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6) September 29, 2024
Aaron Hardie is on fire, claiming his second wicket in as many overs. Will Jacks fell prey to a beautifully crafted length delivery that nipped back in sharply, exposing a massive gap between bat and pad. #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/VS94aDLwsB
— Abrar Iqbal (@abrariqbal1000) September 29, 2024
Wrong choices
He did run some bats out for Will Jacks who clearly then made the wrong choice.🙃
— Ian Garrard (@twominutesto) September 29, 2024
Gone for duck
Will jacks bowled by Aaron hardie for 🦆.2 wickets in a over.#ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/gzvNB6NeCL
— Batty about Cricket (@IKBaloc87199798) September 29, 2024
Will Jacks useless yet again. Make sure he’s far away from international cricket as possible after this FFS
— Kie♡ (@wbaxkie) September 29, 2024
