Published: Sep 06, 2015, 08:39 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 06, 2015, 06:06 PM (IST)
Controversy loomed over the second One-Day International (ODI) between England and Australia after Ben Stokes was adjudged out obstructing the field to Mitchell Starc. Stokes, batting on 10, played the ball straight to bowler Mitchell Starc and was out of his crease while playing the shot. Starc quickly gathered the ball and in a flash hurled it towards the stumps in order to get Stokes run out. Stokes quickly turned back in order to get his bat back into the crease and in doing so his outstretched left arm was struck by the ball. SCORECARD: England vs Australia, 2nd ODI at Lord’s
The matter of debate is whether Stokes was ‘willfully’ outstretching the arm to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps or whether the arm was outstretched merely as a result of reflexive/evasive action. English fans were of the belief the latter was the case and booed the Aussie players. The booing, of Starc especially, continued until the end of the match, which came when England captain Eoin Morgan was out for 85, the highest score in a total of 245. Smith added: “I thought that was quite disappointing. Ben Stokes dismissal: England’s handling of the situation was dismal
“The umpire deemed it to be out. So I think we’ve just got to move on from that, and continue playing the game of cricket.” Morgan had his own eye-witness view of events as he was the non-striker when Stokes was given out to spark a collapse that saw four wickets lost for 46 runs. VIDEO: Ben Stokes’ reaction was not deliberate, reasserts Eoin Morgan
“The guy throws the ball in your direction from five yards, and all you can do is flinch,” he told Sky Sports after Stokes became only the second England batsman after Len Hutton to succumb to this rare form of dismissal. He was given out…I think it was a natural reaction to protect himself as much as anything else.
“My interpretation of it was that his reaction wasn’t deliberate.” Morgan also revealed that Dharmasena’s initial instinct was to rule not out but that official felt that confirmation by the television umpire was required.
“Kumar told me that they didn’t think it was out … and the third umpire has disagreed. I feel the ball was thrown so fast you can only react in a way that defends yourself. How you can interpret that is open. But certainly, I didn’t think it was deliberate.”
Australia great Shane Warne was among those who felt Stokes has been unfortunate, amid fears that Saturday’s incident could set a dangerous precedent. “We didn’t like to see what happened at Lord’s…Feel for Stokes,” Warne tweeted.
(With inputs from AFP)
