David Warner said it was a freakish act and George Bailey says it would be really sad if it was taken away.
Steve Smith put himself on highlight reels for years to come at Abu Dhabi on Sunday night, sprinting from slip to leg slip to complete a brilliant catch while Pakistan’s batsman Fawad Alam wondered what had just happened.
The left-hander had taken block to face spinner Xavier Doherty during the 18th over of Pakistan’s innings in the one-day clash.
Smith noticed the batsman preparing to play a sweep shot and after the bowler released the ball, Smith ran to leg slip to accept what in the end was a simple chance.
Both on-field umpires conferred before Fawad was adjudged out for a duck with the team’s total on 3-80.
But Fawad wasn’t finished and remained on the boundary line to seek clarification from a match official before finally walking off, hitting the boundary rope with his bat in frustration.
Under playing conditions adopted by the ICC on October 1, a fielder is entitled to move before the ball reaches the batsman as long as it’s in response to the shot the batsman is shaping to play.
“I’m aware the rule has changed and to be honest, as it should,” Australia captain Bailey said.
“As a batsman you’re allowed to switch-hit, you’re allowed to do whatever you like.
“All he’s done is anticipate where the ball’s going to go.
“As a cricket lover, you’re just moving well in the field aren’t you?
“It would be really sad if that went out of the game because I think that’s a spectacle.
“That’s a great thing to be able to see.
“I could tell there was confusion because the umpires came together.
“We knew the rule had changed. We were comfortable with the decision.”
Warner told Sydney’s Big Sports Breakfast radio that his teammate showed great awareness.
Smith had told wicketkeeper Brad Haddin: “He’s going to try and lap (sweep) here, one of these balls, and I’m going to try and stop it.”
Warner said: “And that ball, it actually happened, so it was a bit of a freak thing.
“Lucky it didn’t go to first slip,” Warner said.
The new law, as quoted from the ICC Match Officials’ ODI Almanac 2014-15, which was used for the first time in this series: “As long as the movement of a close catching fielder is in response to the striker’s actions (the shot he is about to play or shaping to play), then movement is permitted before the ball reaches the striker.”
ChrisB
Guest
Behind the wicket fielders should be free to move as they wish for mine, given slip fielding is largely about balance they're hardly going to be running up and down at will. But they're not putting the batsman off so up to them I reckon
Clavers
Guest
As far as I can tell, this law would prohibit a close-in fieldsman from, say, scratching his backside (or any other form of movement) as the ball is on its way to the batsman. Fair enough, but what is to be the penalty for such an action?
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Nice post. I'm glad this rule is restricted to close-in fieldsman. Does help police it and adjudicate. Makes you wonder though, if a law that has worked well for many years needs consideration to change due to a particular shot being played then maybe the problem is the shot. Nice catch though and I agree with it standing should the batsman be switching.
Reilly
Roar Rookie
Get y'all titles making sense Roar.
Reuben Kincaid
Guest
It's great anticipation and athleticism by Smith but the ICC really is making a rod for its own back with this amendment to the catching law for ODIs. Judging when a fieldsmen starts to move in comparison to the location of the ball or the intention of the batsman will always be highly subjective. Looking out for it is a huge distraction for the onfield umpires who will always need off field umpires and multiple tv replays to make the decision anyway. Enormously complicated and unnecessary, and moreover open to exploitation, when the existing laws about a legal catch aren't broken. There is a little too much hysteria about the switch hit and its effectiveness. It remains a very high risk shot for the handful of highly skilled batsmen who attempt it, and fielding teams should welcome its use. But if it is to be discouraged or if dismissal laws are to be changed to combat it, I would suggest an amendment less open to future exploitation and controversy, and much easier for the onfield umpires to adjudicate, would be broadening the LBW law to allow the ball to have pitched anywhere in the event of a batsman swapping hands in his batting grip.
Aransan
Guest
Excellent catch that should have been allowed, one wouldn't want to see movement by a fielder that distracted a batsman though.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Good rule change I reckon, and I'm not one for changing the rules often. It evens up the contest a bit. I am glad, however, that it only applies to limited overs cricket (not that too many people reverse sweep in tests anyway).