Fox On The Field: Bizarre Animal Intrusion Halts The Hundred Opener Amid Laughter And Chaos

In a truly unexpected and hilarious moment during the opening match of The Hundred 2025, a fox stole the spotlight — quite literally. As the highly anticipated match got underway with thousands of fans watching both in the stadium and on live broadcast, play was brought to a sudden halt when a fox sprinted onto the field, leaving players and spectators stunned.

The bizarre incident occurred during the first innings of the clash between the Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix, as the match was just picking up pace at The Oval in London.

Fox Sighting: A Surreal Scene On The Cricket Field

It was around the seventh over when the animal suddenly darted onto the ground from the boundary, seemingly unbothered by the roaring crowd or the flashing floodlights. The umpires immediately called for a pause in play as players looked on, amused and baffled.

For nearly two full minutes, the fox pranced across the pitch, tail swishing and ears alert, as security staff cautiously attempted to corner it without alarming the animal. What made it even more amusing was that the fox seemed to enjoy the attention, occasionally stopping to sniff the turf or curiously glance at fielders.

Players And Fans React With Laughter

The unexpected visitor brought a moment of levity and laughter to the match. Several players, including England international Sam Curran, were seen chuckling and pointing at the fox, while others took out their phones to record the incident.

The crowd erupted with cheers and laughter, turning what could have been a minor nuisance into a moment of shared delight. Social media was instantly flooded with clips of the fox, with fans dubbing it “The Hundred’s surprise debutant” and joking that it had better fielding instincts than some of the players.

Play Resumes After Quick Animal Eviction

After a few minutes of gentle coaxing and quick footwork by ground staff, the fox was eventually guided toward the side fencing and exited safely without injury. No harm was done, and play resumed with smiles all around.

Though it caused only a brief interruption, the fox’s appearance has quickly become the most viral moment of the tournament’s opening day, with cricket fans worldwide sharing the clip and praising the light-heartedness of the incident.

Not The First Time Wildlife Interrupted Cricket

While rare, this isn’t the first time an animal has halted a cricket match. There have been previous instances where:

• A dog interrupted a Test match in Sri Lanka
• A swarm of bees forced players to lie down flat in a South African ODI
• A bird of prey caused chaos during a Big Bash League game in Australia

But a fox in The Hundred — especially during such a widely watched opener — adds a quirky new chapter to this unofficial but beloved tradition of wildlife intrusions in cricket.

A Wild Start To The Tournament

While players came prepared for fast-paced cricket and high-stakes action, no one had a fox on their checklist. The moment will surely be remembered as one of the most unusual and delightful moments in The Hundred’s short but colorful history.