Veteran Hampshire bowler Keith Barker took Stuart Broad's infamous art of celebrappealing to a new level when he decided to give Kent batter Tawanda Muyeye out lbw without even looking at the umpire.
Broad is well-known for his tendency to start celebrating lbw shouts before the umpire has made their decision because he is so sure the batter is out. However, Barker went one step further in Hampshire's County Championship game against Kent when he decided to imitate the umpire and give Muyeye out himself.
In the first over of the match, Barker bowled a delivery which Muyeye shouldered arms to. However, the ball hit him on his back pad and Barker immediately began appealing for an lbw.
The 35-year-old was so sure he had made the breakthrough that his appeal soon turned into him giving Muyeye a send-off shortly before the umpire raised his finger. Reacting on social media, @zebz2003 wrote: "What a celebrappeal that is".
"If Big Keith says you're out, then you're out," added @NotSoWittyUN. "Tip for club players trying this: make sure you're built like Keith Barker..." joked journalist Jon Hotten.
"Forget the celebrappeal. How about the celebradecision," added @DGBeswick1. Former Netherlands captain Peter Borren simply wrote: "Ha. Love it!!"
It was an eventful start to what was a hugely eventful first day's play at the Ageas Bowl, with 20 wickets falling. Barker picked up 3-30 as Hampshire bowled Kent out for 165 in their first innings, with opener Ben Compton top scoring with a hard fought 63.
In response, Hampshire were skittled for just 57, with Matt Quinn taking truly remarkable figures of 6-23 from just 6.5 overs. Ian Holland was Hampshire's top scorer with 19 as one of just three players to reach double figures alongside Felix Organ and Barker.
In their second innings, Kent were reduced to 20-3 at the close of play, having opted to use two nightwatchman after Compton was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas for two. Both nightwatchman Conor McKerr and Harry Podmore fell for ducks and Kent will resume their innings on day two with Daniel Bell-Drummond set to join Muyeye, who is 18 not out, at the crease.
