WBBL cricketers duck for cover after Plovers scare Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes players

Cricketers faced terrifying scenes on Tuesday night, when a pair of angry birds spooked players, who were left ducking for cover at a WBBL game.

Two plover parents, a notoriously cranky species of bird also known as Masked Lapwings, set up camp on the in-field at the Hobart Hurricanes 49-run win over the Sydney Thunder at Blacktown Sportspark in Sydney’s west.

The fiercely-protective mum and dad clearly thought the Thunder players were some kind of lime-green monster predators; with star batter Phoebe Litchfield in particular bearing the brunt of the parental angst.

Powerfully-built allrounder Sammy-Jo Johnson was reduced to a laughing mess lying horizontal on the ground to escape the swooping birds, much to the delight of commentators. 

Sydney Thunder star Phoebe Litchfield was victimised by an overly-protective Plover parents at a WBBL match on Tuesday

Sam Bates and Lauren Smith could also be seen clutching on to each other and cowering together on the ground as they jumped away from one of the angry parents – though fortunately they both saw the funny side in the situation.

‘I can see that a few players are actually hitting the deck at the moment,’ former Australian and Thunder legend Alex Blackwell laughed on the Fox Sports broadcast of the game.

‘A mum and dad plover, it looks like they’re protecting the chicks. The plovers are quite territorial and they lay their nest randomly out on the outfield.

‘You’d expect a nest to be somewhere more protected but looks like the nest has been placed at short cover,’ said Blackwell, who grew up used to territorial birds playing in regional NSW.

Thunder allrounder Sammy-Jo Johnson lies flat on the field as a plover swoops

Sam Bates (left) and Lauren Smith (right) clung to each other for dear life as they cowered on the ground while a plover swooped – though fortunately the laughing players did see the funny side

A member of the ground staff tries to help Thunder star Phoebe Litchfield avoid a swooping plover

 According to Australia’s largest wildlife rescue, Plovers inhabit all of Australia, and lay their eggs on a nest on the ground in open areas like, as it turns out, in the middle of elite sporting fields. 

‘Plovers are very protective of their nests and chicks. This is particularly the case after the chicks have hatched. Adults may dive on intruders, use loud noises and swooping or act as though they have a broken wing in an attempt to lure the intruder away from the nest,’ the organisation’s website says. 

Plovers lie their nests on the ground in the middle of open areas

Plover (also known as Masked Lapwings) parents are fiercely protective of their newborn chicks, and will often swoop humans if they are nearby

Blackwell also regaled viewers with another sporting plover story, admitting that while Aussie star Ellyse Perry scored a historic 213* on North Sydney Oval, her teammates were paying more attention to a plover on the hill.   

‘I actually remember a day-night Test match where Elysse Perry got a 200. What kept us entertained was there was a plover at North Sydney Oval, so it’s not just at Blacktown, they can occur anywhere around Sydney,’ she said.

The plovers did eventually leave, but it wasn’t enough to get rattled Thunder players over the line. 

Hurricanes legspinner Maisy Gibson celebrates after the key wicket of Rachael Haynes on Tuesday night in Blacktown

A bowling masterclass from the Hurricanes restricted a star-studded Thunder batting line-up to just 95; with Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham and Hayley Jensen all nabbing two wickets.

It came after South African smasher Lizelle Lee lead the women in purple to 7-144 off their 20 overs with a dynamic 41 off 29 balls. 

The Hurricanes, who sit third on the ladder after winning two of their opening three, travel to Western Australia to face the Perth Scorchers on Sunday.

The Thunder, who are currently wooden spooners, will look to rebound when they also travel to Perth to take on the Scorchers this Saturday.