Photos and video: Lendl Simmons bats with 1 pad in CPL, creates history

Providence, (Guyana), July 11: Twenty20 cricket brings in lot of innovation. And West Indies' batsman Lendl Simmons has made his contribution. He created history by unveiling his own novel method in batting during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

On July 9 (Saturday), at the Providence Stadium, Simmons became the first-ever batsman in a major competition to bat with only one pad. (Kohli is 'very arrongant': Simmons)

In a move that left players and fans all over the world stunned, the right-handed opening batsman decided to remove his pad from the right leg which helped in runnning freely between the wickets.

The 31-year-old Simmons, who opened the batting for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, scored 50 runs off 60 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. However, more than his innings, the talking point was about him batting with only one leg guard. Also, Simmons' 60-ball 50 was the slowest half century ever in CPL.

Single pads on while batting at CPL.@54simmo cricket could be changing.#CPL16 pic.twitter.com/WRaDmHr7IF

— umesh patwal (@umeshbpatwal) July 11, 2016

Indian supporters still remember the way Simmons, aided with 3 chances, produced a match-winning knock of 82 in the ICC World T20 semi-final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in April this year. He played for Mumbai Indians in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL 9). However, he was injured and featured in only 1 match.

Batsman preferring only one pad is often seen in gully cricket but not in such a big tournament. Simmons threw caution to the wind as he batted against fast bowlers and he could have been injured. Simmons faced Pakistani left-arm quick Sohail Tanvir among others.

"He's (Lendl Simmons) batting with one leg guard. I have never seen this in any cricket apart from backyard," former West Indies' fast bowler Ian Bishop said while commentating on the game.

Simmons opted to go in for a change, without one pad, at the end of the 12th over of the innings and continued to bat that way before he was run out in the final over.

Patriots posted 108/8 in 20 overs. Guyana Amazon Warriors won the match by 4 wickets, scoring 109/6 in 16.2 overs.

Has Simmons started a new trend? Will others follow him?

Lendl Simmons looks to pull the ball during his half-century with TON, CPL 2016, Providence, July 9, 2016 pic.twitter.com/bDeOiLn3Xp

— SS CRICKET BATS (@SareenSports) July 11, 2016

Has Lendl Simmons started a new trend in cricket ? Simmons batted with just one pad in the T20 match in CPL. #Cricket

— Gav_Joshi_Aus (@Gampa_cricket) July 11, 2016

Why did Lendl Simmons play with just one pad in #CPL16 game? Any idea anyone?

— Chinmay Jawalekar (@CricfreakTweets) July 10, 2016

Lendl Simmons with one pad. Never seen before! #CPL16 pic.twitter.com/F1emkfJGEM

— Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) July 9, 2016

Lendl Simmons batting without one pad. That's a weird one. We did it as kids when we didn't have money to buy two pairs.#GAWvSTK #CPL16

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 9, 2016

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