Western Australia were denied what looked to be a fair wicket at a crucial stage on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW when all-rounder Chris Green was given not out despite blocking a throw at the stumps when out of his ground.
With Green and captain Moises Henriques in the midst of a 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket which has the Blues within reach of first-innings points overnight, the all-rounder defended a ball from seamer Charlie Stobo back down the wicket.
Stobo had a ping at the stumps which was on target and Green, who was clearly out of his crease, blocked the ball away rather than evade the throw or get back behind the crease.
Green was on 11 at the time and NSW were 6-227 and the umpires eventually ruled that he was not out. WA keeper Sam Whiteman asked why Gren was not given out after his appeal fell on deaf ears.
Under the Laws of Cricket, “The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he/she wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his/her wicket.”
However, a batter will be deemed not out if the obstruction was to avoid injury or if they are in their crease.
Green made it to stumps to be 17 not out with Jackson Bird (11) trying to put the Blues into the lead. They are 7-244, trailing WA by just 12 after bowling the hosts out for 256 on Saturday.
The Blues’ tail, however, collapsed for 4/21, leaving the West Aussies five in front at the turn, with the chance to pile on the runs.
Henriques played one of his finest Sheffield Shield knocks to put the Blues in with a chance.
He was dismissed for 95 late on day two, soon after the Green controversy, at the WACA Ground to fall just short of his 14th first-class century.
Charlie Stobo. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
The circumstances surrounding his dismissal were also controversial with Henriques unimpressed at being given out to a ball it looked like he did not touch.
NSW started their innings on Sunday but fell into early trouble at 3-30 as quick Joel Paris and spinner Corey Rocchiccioli ran through the Blues’ top-order.
But Henriques was able to dig in, forming important partnerships with Ollie Davies (21) and in-form allrounder Jack Edwards (34).
Paris was the pick of WA’s bowlers with 3-45 from 22 overs, while Rocchiccioli sent down 32 overs in a day for 3-96.
WA, who have won the last two Shield finals, sit second after winning three games before the break for the BBL.
NSW are trying to claim an unlikely double against WA this season.
In November, the Blues snapped their longest winless Shield run when they upset WA at the SCG to secure their first victory in 21 months.
NSW added another victory to their tally after that, downing ladder-leaders Tasmania to regain confidence.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Jhye Richardson is injured.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris, Cam Green, Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Kelly all missing...not just Jhye.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Yep, yep, yep. This was never hitting the stumps and the batter has no idea how wild or accurate the throw from half way down the wicket is going to be so has to be ready to protect themselves with their BAT. It’s not rocket surgery. This is clearly and obviously not out unless your goal is to encourage bowlers and fielders to deliberately throw AT the batters who are out of their crease.
Blink
Roar Rookie
And would you believe it. NSW went to Perth and beat W.A in their own backyard. Where was Jyhe Richardson?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Garry could play until he's 40.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Wyllie is a real talent but he just doesn't justify a spot in the team with those numbers. As I said, you can carry one youngster but not 3. Not sure who the selectors are but Voges will be one.
ant
Roar Rookie
Right, but Corey's not ahead of Lyon though.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
In that stock photo, Stobo has an unfortunate resemblance to Edward Norton's character in American History X. Not really relevant, but I can't unsee it.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
How are selections made? Was there state second XI cricket, or Perth grade cricket on during the Big Bash? I have watched Wyllie bat and he looks alright.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
How silly can one Donsy be? I was not calling anyone names. I was merely stating a fact.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I think you might not realise that Renshaw isn't starting his career. Powerful argument when all you can do is call schoolyard names.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
In this case the thrower of the ball should get demerit points. Its the case of a bowler using the batsman being slightly out of their ground to have a ping at them in the guise of going for a run out. The batsman used their bat not to avoid being run out but to stop it hitting their body, if they had turned to get back in their ground then they would have copped a hit from the ball.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Exactly what you did with Renshaw’s two failures this week? Fukcwit.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It wasn't though. He was under no threat.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It was pretty close to yorking his feet…in which case it might have hit the stumps. He was out of his crease by some way. That’s why the bat should not have been used and isn’t allowed to be used. The Henriques not out on 1 changed the result.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's not allowed. The laws of cricket don't allow it. Neither rubbish, nor tosh there. That said, I have already said it was the right decision...but Green was wrong, wrong, wrong. Let it hit your pads.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I think Kelly's injury and the atrocious LBW 'not out' when Henriques was on 1 will be the difference. Our 3 kids who failed twice with the bat are all terrific prospects but you watch people who don't know cricket count the impact this has on their averages as proof that they can never succeed. (Opeo, Christo...)
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I think the article is quoting the wrong part of the law. I think that’s the part that applies to what was previously “handling the ball”. It’s pretty obvious that obstructing the field doesn’t only apply to batters receiving a ball from the bowler.
Blink
Roar Rookie
Rubbish! What tosh. It was a normal reaction, correct decision, life goes on.
Doogie
Roar Rookie
Out all day every day. You cannot make no effort to get back in your crease and use the bat to hit it the second time and then continue to stand there. Green has to be trying to get into his crease. Balls in play. Bat is out of his crease. Seems a genuine shy. You just cannot do that and if I was Whiteman, I'd be pretty annoyed at the decision. This isn't even a spirit of cricket question.