The opening batsman strode to the middle with the confidence of a man who had an ace up his sleeve. Upon finding out from which end the first over would be bowled, he had a brief conversation with his partner, strode to the crease, took centre and stood on the wrong side of the bat.
The wicket keeper (me), aghast at the situation playing out before him, turned to first slip (my brother Dave) and said, “Left handers, ruining cricket since 1901. Before that, they weren’t allowed to play.”
They sure do. They’re a curse to square leg umpires, who should have a cushy job giving close run outs not out and basically ignoring every short-run ever done. Instead, the presence of the left hander forces the square leg umpire to actually do something. The left hander comes on strike and the field resets, the bowler is about to bowl, and all of a sudden the square leg umpire flies into motion as he realises he’s forgotten to change sides.