An accurate throw from Joe Solomon (left) runs out Ian Meckiff at Brisbane in 1960–61, to bring about Test cricket's first tie

 IT HAS become cricket's contemporary art form. The run-out is recognised as the batsman's equivalent to jumping from 40,000 feet without a parachute. In recent times, though, a collection of outstanding out-fielders have increased the danger level for any unwary travellers between the popping creases.

A spectacular run-out following a direct-hit throw makes a crowd erupt like soccer fans after a goal. A scene very much associated with limited-overs cricket, it is a major attraction in that form of the game.

This more widespread prowess has been transferred to the first-class game as well, and some players have established reputations for their outcricket skills as much as their preferred specialist area. Many recall Mark Ramprakash's brilliant catches and run-out during his Test debut at Headingley in 1991 better than his solid batting double. Last March, Jonty Rhodes's sprawling, full-length dives at everything that moved made the fresh-faced South African an immediate favourite with World Cup crowds.

Two West Indian players and a photographer played a major part in raising the awareness of the cricket public to the skill involved in running-out batsmen. Australian captain Dave Gregory had stranded himself as early as the very first session in Test cricket. In 1903–04 umpire Bob Crockett's decision to give Australian hero Clem Hill run-out provoked a near-riot in Sydney. Some years later Jack Hobbs was renowned as a real threat to batsmen who risked quick singles. However, Joe Solomon's accuracy and Ron Lovitt's opportunism with the camera at Brisbane on Dec 14, 1960 suddenly lifted everyone's consciousness of this aspect of the game.

The little West Indian middle-order batsman's dismissal of Ian Meckiff at the conclusion of the tied Test was perhaps the seminal fielding performance. Certainly, it was a magical moment, beautifully captured by Melbourne Age photographer Lovitt. Along with Beldam's 1905 shot of Victor Trumper, it is the best-known of all cricket's frozen images.

 Solomon had warmed to his task a few minutes earlier by throwing out Alan Davidson when Australia seemed assured of victory. The hero himself barely made it into the picture frame for the later historic moment, and ironically, in the deciding fifth Test of the same series, was himself run-out in both innings. Australia eventually won by two wickets, so Solomon's misjudgements contributed to West Indies' narrow loss.

 Joe Solomon, the fielder responsible for Test cricket's most famous run-out

Following a career that contained 8540 Test runs, and a succession of thrilling batting displays, it is strange to recall that Viv Richards initially gained widespread international recognition for an exceptional afternoon's fielding. He was involved in three of the five run-outs that cost Australia the 1975 World Cup final. The speed, accuracy and mobility of the 23-year-old accounted for Alan Turner and Greg Chappell with direct hits, while Ian Chappell's determined innings was ended by a throw pinpointed over the stumps to Clive Lloyd. Statistically Richards had an ordinary game, but his name is inextricably linked to any recollection of the inaugural World Cup final.

 Frank Worrell (centre) outpaces Derek Shackleton in the pulsating final over of the 1963 Lord's Test. Shackleton's dismissal brought in the injured Colin Cowdrey

 Joe Solomon had to wait until the very last moments of that wonderful Brisbane Test for the opportunity to display his talents. At the same venue, 18 years later, David Gower's anticipation and fleetness of foot proved costly to Australia in general, and Gary Cosier in particular, from the fifth ball of an Ashes series.

His precise left-hand underarm throw from short cover immediately upset the fragile batting confidence of Graham Yallop's inexperienced side. Notably, the heavily-built Cosier had been called through for the risky single by that most infamous of batting partners, Graeme Wood. There would be plenty more runouts during the six Tests, but the first one, soon after 11 am on a humid Brisbane morning, probably had the most influence on the eventual result of the series.

Roger Harper: `speed-of-light reflexes' at Lord's in 1987

 Gower's peer in Mike Brearley's side was the equally threatening Derek Randall. The pair alternated between cover and midwicket. Randall was also in the quicksilver class. He had a fine time Down Under in 1978–79, but his slickest run-out had been at Leeds 18 months earlier. On the second evening of the fourth Test, Australia, already two down in the series, beset by all the strife, negative publicity and wrangling of the Packer Affair, were 52 for 2 chasing England's 436. They seemed resigned to giving up the Ashes.

Perhaps Rick McCosker was thinking of the inevitability of it all when he backed up a shade dreamily to a David Hookes defensive push to mid-off. Whatever, the NSW opener was still a yard from his crease when Randall, in one movement, swooped, dived and underarmed the stumps down.

 Randall's action was short and sharp, but still easy to comprehend by the spectator. Backhand flicks from fieldsmen in `silly' positions often leave batsmen stunned by the speed and improbability of their demise, and those watching some distance away temporarily bemused by what has happened.

 David Gower showed himself to be adept at this skill, also, when he dismissed Kepler Wessels in the second innings of the 1985 Lord's Test from silly mid-off. Gower's golden summer included 732 Test runs, the Wessels run-out, and a tactically even more important one at Edgbaston from the opening ball of the third day. England went on to win that match with little time to spare and the termination of Geoff Lawson's stubborn innings came at a critical time.

 Fred Trueman removed Brian Booth for a duck with an on-target flick at Trent Bridge in 1964, and Mike Hendrick sent back Allan Border for a similar score in his first Test, from short leg at Melbourne in 1978–79. Gatting's run-out of Javed Miandad, again from short leg, in the tight Edgbaston Test of 1982 included a transfer of the ball from left to right hand before the stumps were broken.

For speed-of-light reflexes, though, nothing could top Roger Harper's run-out of Graham Gooch in the MCC Bicentenary match at Lord's in August 1987. Harper was the bowler, not a close-in fielder, yet his pick-up and ping from Gooch's powerful straight-drive gave the centurymaker no earthly chance of regaining his ground. It was the freakish kind of effort Learie Constantine is reputed to have performed during the 1920s and 1930s.

Like Booth, Border, Wessels and Javed before him, Gooch was in effect stumped, as he was making no attempt to score a run. All credit goes to the bowler for this dismissal, yet, of course, he receives no acknowledgement on the scorecard. (He did in WCM! –ED.)

Of a different type again was Eldine Baptiste's `bomb' at Lord's in 1984 which dismissed Geoff Miller. His 75-yard throw from in front of the Warner Stand demolished the middle stump at the Nursery end with Miller still casually completing a second run. The Antiguan has an outfielder's arm to match with the best, and this was the perfect long-distance throw.

 Brisbane again, 32 years on: South Africa's Jonty Rhodes dives headlong to dismiss Inzamam-Ul-Haq of Pakistan during the 1992 World Cup match at the Gabba

Not that a throw is always required. Jonty Rhodes also has the horizontal, ball-in-hand stumps-launch in his repertoire.

 Frank Worrell relied on a straight-out sprint against Derek Shackleton to win a decision during the nailbiting final over of the 1963 Lord's Test. If the West Indies captain had not outpaced his fellow veteran then the drama of Colin Cowdrey, broken arm in plaster, striding to the non-striker's end with two balls remaining in the match, is not likely to have occurred. Grainy black-and-white video footage reveals that Shackleton nearly made it, although with both players well past their athletic prime there was no need to slow down the action to get a clear view of the result.

Run-outs in Tests still make up a small percentage of dismissals. In the 1956 Ashes series only one batsman, Jim Laker, was run-out during the rubber. In 1978–79 there were as many as 12.

Bill Alley used to jest that his ambition as an umpire was to give 10 batsmen out l. b. w. in one innings. Will the day ever come where a whole team is dismissed run-out? In limited-overs cricket it might just be possible.

Quick work from Derek Randall finds non-striker Rick McCosker backing up too far at Headingley in 1977. Hendrick, Boycott and batsman Hookes display varying emotions

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