Aussie Test cricket star endures one of the most embarrassing moments in the sport's history

Former Aussie Test pace bowler John Hastings has produced one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of cricket as he turned in an over so bad he couldn't finish it - even after sending down 17 deliveries.

Hastings, 39, was taking part in a World Championship of Legends T20 match at Grace Road in Leicester, when disaster struck.

In astonishing scenes, the man who played one Test and 38 white-ball internationals for Australia bowled 12 wides and one no-ball in an over that failed to reach six legal deliveries.

For many rusted-on sports fans on local shores, it was similar to watching Aussie golfer Ian Baker-Finch in the mid to late 1990s, who infamously lost all confidence in his game as he approached the twilight of his career.

Daily Mail Australia has broken down Hastings' nightmare spell, ball by ball, after  captain Brett Lee threw the ball his way in the eighth over of Pakistan's run chase at Leicester's Grace Road.

The Spell From Hell

8.1-8.5:  Five consecutive wides

Hastings began the over by bowling to Pakistan legend Sohaib Maqsood. Having bowled right-arm fast to medium pace during his career, the Aussie star bolted down the wicket to deliver his first ball.

But things went awry when he appeared to buckle over onto his left side as the ball left his right hand.

The delivery spun out left, pitching short and in line with the return crease on the left side of the wicket. Maqsood was left stumped by the delivery, as wicket keeper Ben Dunk was left scrambling to stop the ball from running for a boundary.

The next delivery was much the same, pitching left and short again, with Dunk again being forced to move several paces to recover the ball.

Hastings, who took 42 wickets in this 29-match ODI career, couldn’t find his rhythm as he stepped up once again, bowling a similar delivery.

As the over went on, Hastings agonisingly continued to pitch the ball left with the umpire signalling for a wide again. However, his deliveries began to move closer in line with the stumps.

8.6: One run

This time Hastings pitched the ball closer to the wicket, but it appeared to bounce just outside the wide markings on the pitch. Despite that, Maqsood stepped forward and swiped the ball right to deep point, with the batsmen securing one run 

8.7: Boundary (four runs)

Opting for a different tactic, the 39-year-old Aussie this time released the ball out of the right-hand side of his hand, appearing to stand more upright through his bowling action.

It was a full delivery, with the ball squirting own and full towards left-hander Sharjeel Khan, who clipped the ball straight back in the direction from which it came for four.

8.8: No ball (one run)

Hastings then returned to throw a similar delivery to the ball he produced at the start of the over. The ball bounced wide and short, bouncing up in the air over the batsman’s head for a no ball. 

8.9 - Free hit

Pakistan then had a free hit. But Hastings bowled another no ball with dunk being forced to stretch and dive to collect the delivery.

8.10 - Leg bye

This was when Hastings opted to take evasive action. This time he came around the delivery but still appeared to buckle onto his left side. The ball came down towards the wicket, but it appeared to strike Sharjeel on the leg, with the umpire awarding a leg bye. 

8.11 - Wide

Hastings reverted to coming over the wicket but again appeared to be having the same issue, throwing down another wide. 

8.12 - Dot ball

This time, Hastings bowled a better delivery, with the ball travelling down the left side of the wicket. Maqsood swung at the delivery, but it trickled off to his right for no run. 

8.13 - Single

This was perhaps one of the best deliveries of the over. Coming over the wicket, Hastings bowled a pacey delivery at an angle across the face of Maqsood, though it looked to be bouncing around the wicket. Maqsood and ripped his bat through the shot, sending it to deep square leg for one run. 

8.14 - 8.18 - Five consecutive wides. Pakistan win by 10 wickets 

The spell would finish as it started, with Hastings bowling another five wides. He began by bowling around the wicket but again this didn't work. Hastings then came over the wicket, bowling across the strike batsman, but wrapped up his over with a full toss that careered outside the tram lines. 

Australia subsequenly conceded defeat, however there were some touching moments after the over, with Nathan Coulter-Nile running in to give his team-mate an embrace, as hastings shook hands with the Pakistan batsmen.

Adding insult to injury, Pakistan easily chased down Australia's poor total of just 74 when Hastings still had the ball in his hands, meaning he was unable to complete his over from hell. 

And despite the shocking defeat, Australia will face South Africa in the semi-finals on Friday morning AEST.

It is unknown if Hastings will play - but he is likely to be 'rested'. 

In 2018, Hastings retired from all forms of professional cricket after being struck down by a mystery ailment which saw him cough up blood when bowling.

Doctors couldn't confirm the cause and any possible cure - and that prompted Hastings to hang up his spikes.

'I've gone through an extensive testing process,' Hastings told The Age. 'I've gone through all sorts of tests. It's been quite invasive.

'It's [only] when I bowl. The pressure at the crease, little blood vessels in my lungs burst.

'That determines that I cough up blood on a regular basis when I'm trying to bowl. It's a really scary thing.

'I asked if there was any potential to have a fatal bleed on the field. They (doctors)  couldn't say yes or no. And I wasn't happy with that.'