What is that? Unexpected moment as unusual items halt play during wheelchair basketball game between England and Australia
Published 24/07/2026 at 20:58 GMT+1
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It is only day one and there have already been a host of weird and wonderful moments at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - but this incident in the 3x3 wheelchair basketball might have topped the lot so far.
Watch an unusual moment in Para basket as unexpected items drop onto floor mid-event
Video credit: TNT Sports
From the bizarre malfunction in the pool that delayed Adam Ramsay-Peaty’s first race, to an oblivious Mark Swan not realising he had taken Team England’s first gold of the Games, there have been plenty of talking points.
And there was another during the 3x3 wheelchair basketball clash between Team England and Team Australia.
Leading 15-12, England’s Peter Cusack popped the ball back to James Hazell before losing his balance and ending up on the floor.
He quickly got back up but not before emptying the contents of his pocket onto the court. Bizarrely, it was not until the scoreline was 16-13 that one of the officials blew the whistle to pause proceedings, so that the rogue mystery items could be cleared away.
"Something’s been spilt on the floor. I thought it looked like sweets," TNT Sports commentator Clare Griffiths said.
Cusack was visibly and audibly miffed when he realised his sugary cargo had been spilt, but not so much that he was put off eating one before returning to the court.
It wasn't quite the five-second rule but you can let off a competitor in the heat of battle.
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"Pete Cusack keeping himself fuelled. I take it he forgot they were on his lap," added Griffiths.
"But what a game Pete Cusack has had. The team are playing nervy, he came in and he’s shot a fantastic percentage: seven of 11 for the game. It’s his first Commonwealth Games."
They went on to see out the 16-13 victory, meaning it was double delight for Team England following the 16-6 win for the women’s wheelchair basketball side over Australia earlier in the day.
With big wins to begin their respective pool-stage campaigns, the belief that the men’s and women’s teams can land a medal will only have grown, but speaking after the match, Hazell vowed there would be no complacency.
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‘I thought I’d come third!’ - Swan ‘didn’t have a clue’ he’d claimed Commonwealth gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
He told Team England: "I don't think we need to read too much into it right now because it's the first game of the tournament.
"We've got a long way to go still and we've still got two difficult games in pool stages, let alone go into the knockouts.
"So we take the confidence from that, move on to the next one and see what we can improve on."
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