I played a game for the SCG XI at the SCG a few years ago against the Honk Kong Cricket Club and they had this opening bowler who played County cricket and apparently bowled 140km/hr. Stuart Clark was captaining us that game and got out LBW to him on the last ball of one of his overs, then he skittled our next batsman first ball of his next over.

So, I found myself trudging out onto the SCG to face the hat trick ball. Russell Grimson was at the other end and said to me ‘play forward, he will pitch it up’. Well, Russell was right, it was pitched up, but it was through me before I got a chance to get forward, quickest ball I have ever faced by far, wrapping my back pad on the knee roll. Arthur Watson was umpiring and gave me not out. Not sure what part of middle stump it would have been missing. Maybe Arthur is a bit if a sadist and just wanted to watch me face the rest of that over, which I did, somehow. I actually really enjoyed the challenge.