Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic attended the 32nd match of the 2024-25 Big Bash League between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades. The match was played at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne.
Djokovic enjoyed the game which had plenty of fours and sixes. However, he was left shocked when Stars player Marcus Stoinis almost hit the roof of the stadium. During the eighth over of the game, Tom Rogers bowled a length ball right into the off-stump slot.
Marcus Stoinis saw the opportunity and lined up to smash the ball out of the park with all his might. However, the ball only got the pitch and not the pitch. It went miles in the air before settling into the hands of Kane Richardson at long-on, just on the edge of the boundary.
The ball almost touched the roof and Marcus Stoinis just couldn't believe he was caught in the deep. Even Novak Djokovic, who was present at this match, could not believe how Stoinis was dismissed and was shocked.
Clock: Glenn Maxwell stuns the cricketing world with his record 122m sixes and triple maximums in the BBL
Watch: Novak Djokovic left shocked after Marcus Stoinis almost hit the roof
Even @DjokerNole I couldn't believe it!
Marcus Stoinis is caught after hitting a high ball and Novak Djokovic reacts accordingly! #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/7eaGv3xLza
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 12, 2025
It was a delightful reaction from tennis legend Novak Djokovic. It is worth noting that Novak Djokovic is currently in Melbourne to compete in the first Australian Open Grand Slam of the year. He last won the Australian Open in 2023 but was beaten in the semi-finals last year.
Glenn Maxwell powers Melbourne Stars to a good total with a historic knock
Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to play first at their home ground. They got off to the perfect start as they dismissed goalkeeper Sam Harper early on. The Renegades picked up two more wickets in quick succession which included the big wicket of Ben Duckett.
Stars were further reduced to 75-7 and it looked like their innings would fold quickly. Skipper Marcus Stoinis was dismissed for a quickfire 18 off 10 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes. However, Glenn Maxwell had other ideas. The right-hander showed he still has it and played a blinder under pressure.
He had Usama Mir as his batting partner but kept the batting steady to move the innings. Maxwell scored a magnificent 90 off just 52 deliveries with 4 fours and 10 sixes to take his team to 165. He really entertained the crowd by playing one of the most memorable knocks in the history of the tournament.
Melbourne Renegades are very short
In reply, Melbourne Renegades also got off to a poor start and lost early wickets. Fast bowlers Mark Steketee and Joel Paris wreaked havoc on the Renegades batting line-up and reduced them to 44-4. A brief partnership between Tim Seifert and Will Sutherland followed, but the latter's wicket began another collapse.
The Renegades continued to lose wickets from that point on and were eventually bowled out for 123 with just one ball to spare. Left-arm seamer Joel Paris finished with 3-13 in four overs, while Mark Steketee finished with 5-17.