Aled Carey, a bowler playing club cricket in Australia, achieved the rare feat of taking six wickets in six balls, an accomplishment often referred to as a "perfect over" in the sport.
The Unprecedented "Perfect Over" by Aled Carey
In a truly remarkable display of bowling prowess, Aled Carey etched his name into cricket's history books by dismissing six batsmen in a single over. This extraordinary achievement occurred during a club match in Australia, showcasing an incredible combination of skill, precision, and a touch of luck.
How the Wickets Fell
Carey's perfect over was a diverse showcase of different dismissal types, demonstrating his ability to trouble batsmen in various ways. The sequence of wickets was as follows:
- 1st Wicket: Caught at slip – A sharp catch from a fielder positioned close to the batsman, often requiring quick reflexes.
- 2nd Wicket: Caught-behind – The batsman edged the ball, and the wicketkeeper successfully took the catch.
- 3rd Wicket: LBW (Leg Before Wicket) – The ball struck the batsman's leg in line with the stumps, preventing it from hitting the wicket.
- 4th Wicket: Clean Bowled – The ball directly hit and dislodged the stumps without the batsman making contact.
- 5th Wicket: Clean Bowled – Another direct hit on the stumps, demonstrating sustained accuracy.
- 6th Wicket: Clean Bowled – Completing the over with a third consecutive clean bowled, a testament to his unerring line and length.
This sequence of dismissals highlights the bowler's ability to adapt and consistently challenge the opposition's batsmen, culminating in one of the most memorable overs in cricket.
What is a "Perfect Over"?
While a perfect over typically refers to a maiden over (no runs conceded), in the context of taking six wickets, it signifies an ultimate display of bowling dominance. It's an incredibly rare event, even rarer than a bowler conceding zero runs in an over while also taking wickets, as it requires every ball to result in a dismissal.
The rarity of this feat makes Aled Carey's accomplishment a significant talking point in cricketing circles, illustrating the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the game.
Aled Carey's Six Wickets in an Over
| Ball | Dismissal Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caught at Slip | Fielder at slip position caught the ball after it edged the bat. |
| 2 | Caught-Behind | Wicketkeeper caught the ball after it took an edge from the bat. |
| 3 | LBW | Ball struck the batsman's leg, ruled to be preventing it from hitting the stumps. |
| 4 | Clean Bowled | Ball directly hit and dislodged the bails/stumps. |
| 5 | Clean Bowled | Another direct hit to the stumps, showing consistent accuracy. |
| 6 | Clean Bowled | The final ball of the over, again directly hitting the stumps for the sixth consecutive dismissal. |
