On February 18, 1986, a moment of cricketing infamy unfolded during the first ODI between England and the West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston.
England, touring the Caribbean, faced an uphill battle against a West Indies side that hadn't lost a Test series in over a decade.The West Indies boasted of a bowling unit consisting of Marshall, Courtney Walsh, and Joel Garner.
In the opening ODI, England batted first but found themselves in dire straits early on, losing two wickets for just 10 runs. Captain Viv Richards, sensing the threat posed by Gatting and his partner Graham Gooch, instructed Marshall to bowl what is infamously known as the "perfume ball." This term refers to a delivery that comes so close to the batsman's face that he can almost "smell" the leather of the ball.
Marshall executed this delivery with precision. As Gatting attempted to hook the short ball, it lifted unexpectedly and smashed into the bridge of the nose. The impact was catastrophic; blood gushed from his injury as he fell to the ground. To add insult to injury, the ball ricocheted off his face and knocked over the stumps.
Witnesses described the scene as harrowing. Gatting's injury was so severe that a piece of bone from his nose was later discovered lodged in the ball when it was returned to Marshall. England's physio Laurie Brown at the time remarked "It is the worst injury I have ever seen in all my years working with footballers and cricketers”.
Marshall later recounted how he felt queasy upon discovering bone fragments in the ball, indicating just how brutal this encounter had been. The injury was so severe that Gatting was forced to return to England for specialized treatment.
Gatting's injury became one of cricket's most talked-about moments, leading to discussions about player safety and equipment standards. His nose remains famously known as "the most photographed nose in Britain," symbolizing both the brutality of fast bowling and the resilience required in professional sports.
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