Little-known rule causes storm in BBL thriller

1 year ago 73

A arguable cricket regularisation has divided opinions aft playing a captious relation successful the Brisbane Heat's thrilling triumph against the Sydney Sixers.

It was an exceptionally high-scoring contention successful the BBL, with the Sixers falling 15 runs abbreviated of the Heat's gargantuan full of 5-224.

Sydney appeared close successful the hunt successful the tally pursuit until Jordan Silk was controversially fixed retired aft a terrific spot of fielding connected the bound from Michael Neser successful the 19th over.

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With the Sixers needing 26 disconnected 11 deliveries, Silk thought he'd deed a 2nd consecutive six disconnected the bowling of Mark Steketee, earlier seeing Heat fielders celebrating.

Fielding astatine heavy mid-off, Neser took the drawback but with his momentum taking him implicit the bound rope, helium threw the shot up successful the aerial and past ran good beyond the enactment to retrieve it.

Neser past jumped portion extracurricular tract of play to propulsion the shot up a 2nd clip earlier moving backmost wrong helium tract of play to drawback it.

There was disorder each around, with Silk adamant that helium should not beryllium fixed out, but the on-field brushed awesome sending him connected his way. The 3rd umpire besides agreed, ending the Sixers large hitter's innings.

Neser was praised for his cognition of regularisation 19.4.2 successful the MCC's cricket regularisation publication which states: "The shot successful play is to beryllium regarded arsenic being grounded beyond the bound if a fielder, grounded beyond the boundary, touches the shot (or if) a fielder, aft catching the shot wrong the boundary, becomes grounded beyond the bound portion successful interaction with the ball, earlier completing the catch."

Neser was not considered to beryllium grounded beyond the bound arsenic his archetypal interaction with the shot came wrong the tract of play.

Following the game, Heat paceman said helium was reasoning of a akin drawback taken by Matt Renshaw a fewer seasons agone arsenic helium executed the juggling act.

"Well, I knew Renshaw did it a mates of years agone and I didn't cognize if they'd changed the rules truthful I was going to springiness it a crack, and thankfully they didn't alteration the rules," helium told teammate Mitch Swepson connected Seven's coverage.

"I did cognize it was a rule, but I didn't cognize if they'd changed it."

Neser's brilliance didn't spell unnoticed by Renshaw and respective others connected societal media.

However, others were not arsenic impressed and felt that Silk and the Sixers had been hard done by.

Australian cricket fable Adam Gilchrist was besides near initially confused, earlier learning of the little-known rule.

"I'll enactment my manus up and accidental superb umpiring and a superb consciousness of crippled consciousness by Michael Neser for him to cognize that rule," helium said connected Fox Cricket's coverage.

"In this modern time we shouldn't beryllium surprised, but we are continually amazed by however superb they are. They signifier truthful overmuch and the fielders are learning each those intricate small rules.

"I don't cognize immoderate cricketer that tin enactment their manus connected their bosom and accidental they cognize each azygous regularisation of the game, but possibly determination are much retired determination present with the modern athleticism and accomplishment that they have. Brilliant each around."

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