Steven Smith predicted the catch that led to Fawad Alam’s dismissal, reveals David Warner

Warner says that Smith knew Fawad Alam was going to attempt the lap sweep.

Oct 14, 2014

Australia opener David Warner revealed that teammate Steven Smith was well aware of the possible catching opportunity which eventually led to the dismissal of Pakistan’s Fawad Alam in the third One-Day International (ODI) on Sunday. The catch led to a small controversy as Smith made a pre-meditated move from slip towards the leg-side after watching Alam go for a lap sweep. Due to the change of runes as of October 1, 2014, the batsman was given out.

“I was fielding at backward point, and generally, wherever you’re fielding, and you see the batsman go to do something, you premeditate and you assume the ball is going to go in that position. I think [New Zealand captain] Brendon McCullum did it last year or the year before – it might have been in the IPL – and they changed the rule to when the bowler lets go of the ball, and you see the batsman do that (begin to play his shot), you can move,” Warner was quoted as saying by Big Sports Breakfast

“So when you look at the replay, (Smith) didn’t move until the bowler let go of the ball, and that’s just great cricket awareness. (Smith) actually said to Brad Haddin: ‘He’s going to try and lap (sweep) here, one of these balls, and I’m going to try and stop it’. And that ball, it actually happened, so it was a bit of a freak thing,” Warner added.

The batsman was furious at being given out and there was a confusion once Smith made the move and successfully caught the ball. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also issued a clarification regarding the catch. Below is ICC’s clarification.

As long as the movement of a close catching fielder is in response to the striker’s actions (the shot he/she is about to play or shaping to play), then movement is permitted before the ball reaches the striker. On the day, if umpires believe any form of significant movement is unfair (in an attempt to deceive the batsman), then the Law still applies”. Click here to read the change in laws which helped Steven Smith

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