Brace
In cricket, the primary objective of the bowler is to dismiss the batter and remove him from the field. This is achieved by hitting the wicket with the ball — the wicket consists of three vertical stumps and two horizontal bails. If the bowler hits the wicket with the ball and the batter fails to defend it, he is considered out.
Brace In Cricket: The Basic Meaning
The term brace is used when a bowler takes two wickets in two consecutive deliveries. This means he dismisses two different batters with back-to-back balls. Although this is a significant achievement, the term brace in cricket is not commonly used in official or popular cricket terminology. It is borrowed from other sports (such as football or hunting), where a brace refers to a pair of something (for example, two goals or two birds).
In cricket, much more common terms are “double strike” or simply “two wickets in two balls.” If a bowler takes three wickets in three consecutive deliveries, it is called a “hat-trick” — a widely recognized and celebrated accomplishment.
To summarize:
- Brace — two wickets in a row; a rarely used term in cricket.
- Hat-trick — three wickets in a row; an officially recognized and prestigious term.
- A bowler who takes two or three wickets in quick succession can significantly shift the momentum of the game by putting pressure on the opposing team.
Brace In Cricket: Popular Names
The following are international cricket instances where bowlers achieved two wickets in two balls, which aligns with the concept of a brace in cricket:
1. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) vs Sri Lanka, 1999
- Match: Test, Colombo.
- Details: In one of the twilight moments of his legendary career, Akram took two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismantling Sri Lanka’s middle order. It wasn’t a hat-trick, but the successive wickets helped shift the momentum of the innings.
2. James Anderson (England) vs India, 2014
- Match: Test at Old Trafford.
- Details: In one of his best spells, Anderson dismissed Rahane and Jadeja with two consecutive deliveries. This double strike was a key moment that strengthened England’s dominance in the match.
3. Jasprit Bumrah (India) vs West Indies, 2019
- Match: Test, Antigua.
- Details: Bumrah took five wickets in the innings, including a spell where he claimed two in two balls. It was one of his most destructive performances, with the brace contributing to his larger impact in the match.
4. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) vs India, T20 World Cup 2021
- Match: Super 12, Dubai.
- Details: Shaheen dismissed KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma in close succession (with only one dot ball between them). While not technically a “brace” by the strictest definition, it was very close and is often regarded as such in spirit, showing how moments like this can reflect the essence of a brace in cricket.
