5 instances which prove that bowlers should have stuck to bowling

Most bowlers are not too well known for their batting skills; however, in recent years, they have started to work on their prowess with the willow. Tail-enders have now earned respectability and are referred to as 'lower-order batsmen'.Yet, it is still highly possible to find quite a few bowlers who are unlikely to impress you with their batting. In fact, even to this day, we have some who can remind one of the classic tail-end batsmen, who found putting bat to ball as a great achievement.The history of cricket has several instances where bowlers went to cost their team matches with some shocking antics while batting. Here are 5 memorable ones from the past couple of decades:

#5 India pay the price for Venkatesh Prasad\'s disastrous batting skills

Venkatesh Prasad is dismissed by Henry Olonga as India lose to Zimbabwe

The 1999 World Cup brought about one of the most shameful moments in India's World Cup cricket history as they succumbed to a shocking defeat against Zimbabwe in the group stages. After deciding to field first, the Indians conceded 252 runs and things were always going to be difficult for them.

Needing to score the runs in 46 overs, India were pretty much in the driver's seat at 244 for 7 in 44 overs. Henry Olonga was brought on to bowl the 45th over and he got rid of set batsman Robin Singh and Javagal Srinath in the space of 3 balls.

With Anil Kumble at the other end and 7 deliveries still remaining to get 4 runs, Venkatesh Prasad just needed to negotiate one ball from Olonga. Unfortunately, though, Prasad was dismissed for a first-ball duck and India lost by 3 runs.

#4 Mohammed Irfan fails to take Pakistan across the line

Mohammad Irfan is bowled as Pakistan lose by 1 run (Image Courtesy – Cricinfo)

Sometimes, bowlers are better off doing what they do best, which is to bowl; trying a hand at batting may not work out as desired. A fine example of non-batsman variety of bowlers in recent times is gigantic Pakistani paceman Mohammad Irfan.

Irfan's average of exactly 4.00 in ODI cricket is a testimony to his struggles with the bat. In a match against South Africa at Sharjah, his limited abilities ensured that Pakistan lost a match, which they should have won, by just 1 run.

Only 2 runs were required off as many as 21 deliveries with Mohammad Irfan facing up to Morne Morkel in the 47th over. However, Irfan was comprehensively bowled as he missed a straight ball and Pakistan dismissed for 182.

#3 Kemar Roach\'s blunder costs West Indies a victory

Darren Sammy was unable to take West Indies home thanks to Kemar Roach (Image Courtesy – Cricinfo)

The 5-match series played between Australia and the West Indies in 2012 was one of the most keenly contested ones in recent years. The highlight of this exciting series was the 3rd ODI which ended up being a tie.

But things could have been different if West Indian bowler Kemar Roach had not made a catastrophic blunder and allowed the match to get tied. Chasing a target of 221 set by the Australians, the hosts were comfortably placed in the final over with just 1 run needed from 3 balls and Darren Sammy at the crease.

As Sammy played the fourth delivery of Brett Lee's over straight to point, Roach took off in a moment of madness, thinking that it was the last ball of the match. With both batsmen stranded at the striker's end, Lee whipped the bails to run the West Indies skipper out and the West Indies were dismissed for 220.

#2 Venkatapathy Raju\'s untimely celebration in the 1992 World Cup

Venkatapathy Raju made India pay the price for his premature celebration

The 1992 World Cup campaign was not a very memorable one for India as they did not even go as far as the quarter-finals. However, things could have been slightly different, had they not managed to pull defeat from the jaws of victory on at least a couple of occasions.

One of the matches the Indian team could have easily won but ended up losing was the one against hosts Australia. Chasing a revised target of 236 in 47 overs. With 4 runs needed to win off the last ball, Javagal Srinath smashed a long ball towards mid-wicket. The Australian fielder who was settling under the ball somehow dropped the catch.

While on one end, Srinath set off to complete a third run which could have helped tie the match, his partner Venkatapathy Raju mistakenly believed that India had won the match and started celebrating instead of running. By the time he realized his error and tried to make amends, Raju had been dismissed with India losing by a solitary run.

#1 Allan Donald\'s epic run-out in the 1999 World Cup

The historic run-out at the 1999 World Cup semi-final

One of the most unforgettable yet tragic moments in World Cup cricket came during the semi-final of the 1999 ICC World Cup when a tie against Australia in the semi-final sent South Africa crashing out. The unfortunate villain of the entire episode turned out to be a completely confused Allan Donald, who was run-out in the last over.

With just 1 required from the last four balls of the match and Lance Klusener on strike, the Proteas were perhaps already thinking of the final at Lord's. Klusener pushed a Damien Fleming delivery towards mid-off and hurried towards the non-striker's end, only to realise that his partner Donald was still stuck at the crease.

The South African paceman, who had been ball-watching all the while, dropped his bat out of panic and made an attempt to complete the run. Unfortunately for him and South Africa, it was too late as Australia had already thrown down the stumps to make their way to the World Cup final.