Match Tied. Super over also tied!
We witnessed some fabulous cricket and crazy scenes at Lords in the 2019 WC Finals didn’t we? None of us, including the two captains I guess, knew before the game, that should the super over tie, the team with most boundaries wins.
Cricket is not just about big hits and wickets; it’s a sport filled with intriguing rules that even avid fans might overlook.
Beyond the boundaries and sixes lie hidden regulations that add depth and excitement to every match.
Here is a closer look at five of the lesser-known rules, you probably didn’t know:
1. Super Over
We’re talking about the 3rd T20 between India and Afghanistan at the Chinnaswamy on 17th Jan 2024.
The match ended up in a tie and went into a Super over.
In the super over, India needed 2 off the last ball and Jaiswal was on strike when Rohit Sharma declared himself as “retired out”, reason being the self awareness that he is not the quickest between the wickets.
Rinku Singh came in at the non striker’s end to replace Rohit.
He could only take a single which meant the super over also ended on equal scores.
This led to the 2nd super over, thanks to the World Cup 2019 final where super over was tied and a World Cup winner was decided on the basis of boundaries hit. This bought the concerned stakeholders’ attention to this bizarre rule and prompted them to change it.
Ever since, a match can have ‘n’ number for super overs till the winner is decided.
India had to bat first this time, and the crowd was electrified to see Rohit Sharma, who was “retired out” in the previous super over, come in to bat again.
The rule says that the batsmen who have been given out in the first super over cannot come out to bat again, should there be a 2nd super over, except “retired out/retired hurt”
Rohit Sharma definitely bent some laws here, but so did Harvey Spector. The result: Mike Ross!
2. Bails Intact
We all know that the batsmen is not out if the ball hits the stumps but the bails don’t fall off.
But what if the stump is struck out of the ground but the bails are still intact?
What if there are no bails (during runout)? If all three stumps have been removed, is it not possible to run out the batsman?
Well, according to the laws, if the stump is stuck out of the ground, the batsman is out, irrespective of the position of the bails.
If there are no bails during a run out, the fielder will have to remove the stump out of the ground to run out the batsman.
If all the three stumps have already been stuck out of the ground, the batsmen at that end cannot be run out!
3. Out or Six?
If you watch the big bash, the above picture must be fimiliar.
On 1st January 2023, Sydney Sixers needed 26 runs off 10 balls when Jordan Silk, batting on 41 off 22, smashed one towards the left of long off. Micheal Neser, who was positioned at long off, ran there, stretched both his hands and took the catch but realized that he was going over the rope.
He released the ball in an attempt to throw it back into play but instead lobs it in the air but over the fence. He then again runs towards the ball, and while still being over the boundary, jumped in the air, caught the ball, and threw it into play only to catch it within the boundary.
You can watch the catch here at 10 minutes 57 seconds. This was given as OUT.
According to the cricket rules, if the fielder is within the boundary at first point of contact with the ball, then he can juggle the ball ‘n’ number of times in the air to successfully bring the ball within the playing field.
If in the above case, had the fielder’s foot touched the boundary before he had come in contact with the ball for the first time, then even if he jumped in the air to catch the ball and release it, it would have been given a six.
Talking about sixes, here’s an amazing Kookaburra bat, “Kookaburra Kahuna” which can make the ball sail over the boundary.
The Kahuna is Kookaburra’s iconic flagship bat and is one of it’s longest running cricket bat ranges, for good reasons.
Its familiar mid-to-high profile and impressive long sweeping spine gives excellent value for driving shots, as well as cuts and pulls. The bright green sticker set also returns, but with the added detail that Kookaburra brings to the table year after year.
Moreover, on your IDFC First Bank Credit Card, you can get a market best interest rate of just 15% for 24 months.
4. Illegal Bowling Action
Ever wondered why Malinga’s bowling action was completely legal while bowlers like Saed Ajmal and Sunil Narine had to undergo inspection?
According to the laws, an illegal bowling action is an action where the player’s elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees from the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is released.
For eg. For a bowler, if the angle at the elbow, between the forearm and the bicep is 45 degrees when the arm crossed the shoulder but is reduced to less than 30 degrees when the ball is released, it is an illegal action, often referred as chucking
5. Obstructing the field
In match 38 of the ongoing under 19 World Cup 2024, Zimbabwe found a controversial way to dismiss Hamza Sheikh.
The batsman had a thick inside edge and the ball went to hit his shoe. The ball had completely stopped and thus Hamza picked up the ball and gave it to the wicket keeper who was coming to pick up the ball himself.
The Zimbabwe team appealed on this and the batsmen was given out for “obstructing the field”
According to the laws, the striker is out obstructing the field if, 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.
You can watch the video here at 1 minute 33 seconds.
In my opinion, this was within the laws of the game but not within its spirits.
And then there is M.S. Dhoni, who called Ian Bell back when he was batting at 137 in the 2nd Test, India’s Tour of England 2011 even though he was run out as per the laws. India lost the match but kept the spirit of the game alive. What are your thoughts on this?
Anyways, that’s it for this one, but there are many more unexplored rules and laws of the game you would want to know. Would be waiting for you guys in the part 2. Adios!