Unlucky Cartwright out in bizarre fashion

Western Australia’s Hilton Cartwright has been dismissed in extraordinary circumstances in Sydney, a recently-introduced rule change helping NSW Blues take the right-hander’s wicket at Bankstown Oval.

Cartwright was dismissed for three on the fourth day of the JLT Sheffield Shield match when his firmly-struck pull shot ricocheted off the helmet of short leg fielder Nick Larkin and was caught by the bowler, leg-spinner Jason Sangha.

The solidly-built Cartwright smashed a short ball from Sangha straight into the top of the helmet of Larkin, who had ducked his head when he saw the Western Australian aiming a shot in his direction.

The ball rebounded off Larkin’s helmet, high into the air and onto the off-side of the pitch, allowing Sangha plenty of time to run forward and take a straight-forward catch.

Larkin quickly got to his feet to celebrate the wicket, with Cartwright seeming to check on the fielder’s well-being before trudging off the ground.

Larkin was given the all clear after he was assessed by medical staff, while his helmet was replaced.

Previous laws determined that a batsman could not be dismissed if a ball rebounded off a fielder’s helmet, but the law was changed two seasons ago after a review by the game’s law-makers in the wake of the passing of former Australia batsman Phillip Hughes.

The Curtain Review into Hughes’ passing recommended that the highest standard of helmets become mandatory for batsmen facing fast and medium pace bowling, for wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps and for fielders positioned close to the batter (except slips fielders).

In February 2017, Queensland’s Mark Steketee was the first player to be dismissed under the rule change, with Larkin – incredibly – also the man in that instance who was struck on the helmet before the ball was caught by a teammate.

The rule was introduced by Cricket Australia for its domestic competitions in the 2016-17 season, with the ICC following suit for international matches 12 months later.

The dismissal continues a disappointing Shield season for Cartwright; the two-time Test player is now averaging just 22 from 13 innings this summer.