Published: Sep 06, 2015, 06:49 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 06, 2015, 11:53 AM (IST)
Australia‘s win over England in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Lord’s was marred by the controversial ruling rendering Ben Stokes out ‘obstructing the field’ at a crucial stage of the game. While the decision itself was always going to be a contentious one given that umpires had to effectively make a ruling on Stokes’ intentions, England’s handling of the situation after the judgment went against them was poor, opines Rishad D’Souza. SCORECARD: England vs Australia, 2nd ODI at Lord’s
Ben Stokes had only scored ten runs when the umpires made the decision that he was out in an ‘obstructing the field’ appeal. Had he stayed on longer, the outcome of the game that Australia eventually won by 64 runs could have been different. Nevertheless, after much deliberation the umpires deemed Stokes out. VIDEO: Ben Stokes’ reaction was not deliberate, reasserts Eoin Morgan
The law in regards to this type of dismissal requires the umpires to judge the players’ will or intention when the ball makes contact with his body or bat in a run out attempt. In this case the call was always going to be a tricky one and replays in real-time speed and slow motion depicted vastly varying pictures as it often does in such marginal calls. VIDEO: Ben Stokes’ controversial ‘obstructing the field’ dismissal
Facing a full-length delivery from Mitchell Starc, Stokes, out of his crease, straight-drove the ball. Starc collected the ball and seeing the scope for a run out, hurled the ball in direction of the stumps. At this point Stokes quickly turned around in attempt to get his bat back in the crease. While he did so, the ball struck him on the gloved palm of the outstretched left arm. READ: Ben Stokes dismissed ‘Obstructing the field’
In real time it did appear that the reaction from Stokes was purely reflexive and with the intent to prevent getting hit. But slow-motion replays revealed a whole different picture. It appeared as if Stokes had deliberately stretched his arm out to change course of the throw. The fact that the point of impact with Stokes glove was well outside the line of his body gave rise to debate over his intention. READ: Ben Stokes dismissal: Kumar Dharmasena sympathises with Stokes
Those against the decision argued that Stokes never had enough time to react in a way such that he could obstruct the ball. The counter-argument to that could be that Stokes has taken many a blinder in the slip cordon and elsewhere in the past and is well capable of negotiating, in a fraction of a second, the line of the ball. READ: Steven Smith has no regrets about decision involving Ben Stokes
The fact that there are compelling arguments from both sides is testimony that the umpires had a very tough time in making a call on what they deemed correct. There certainly should have been an expectation from either side that the decision could have gone against them. In this case England were certainly not prepared an unfavourable ruling and were vocally cynical of it. READ: Ben Stokes and others who have been dismissed obstructing the field
Boos rang across the ground as Stokes made his disappointed walk back. A seemingly seething Morgan had an elaborate word with the umpire. The game continued and things never quite resurrected for England, despite Morgan’s gritty knock of 85. Perhaps the defeat, which holds them by a thread for a series-defeat, added to England’s rage. READ: Ben Stokes dismissed for obstructing the field: Twitter reactions
In the presentation after the match, Morgan made no bones of what his views were. While his choosing to express his thoughts on the subject was perfectly acceptable, he crossed a line by suggesting that he would have called back the batsman had he been in Australia’s place, thus questioning Steven Smith‘s integrity as Australian skipper. He seemed impervious to the fact that the decision indeed had two sides to it. READ: Ben Stokes dismissal during 2nd ODI against Australia at Lord’s causes fury among crowds
Taking cue from Morgan’s comments, the English crowd raised raucous boos when Steven Smith came on for the presentation in what seemed like a complete lack of respect for the opposition captain who wasn’t responsible for the decision in the first place. While cricket is played, such decisions of extremely debatable nature will always be part and parcel and England should have been more understanding about the same.
(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RDcric on Twitter)
