Here is the video of Dravid caught by McCullum.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFduX2uMH6o
Everyone praised the presence of mind of the wicket keeper to move sideways anticipating the sweep. But is it in accordance with the laws of the game??
As per law 40 : The Wicket keeper ( source : http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-40-the-wicket-keeper,66,AR.html)
Hence in this case McCullum didn't move towards the wicket but sideways before actually the striker played the ball, which in accordance to the law is right and hence Dravid is indeed out!!
However , considering that Wicket keeper does play the role of fielder too in some parts of the game the law 41: Fielder should also be applicable to the wicket keeper
7. Movement by fielders: Any significant movement by any fielder after the ball comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker is unfair. In the event of such unfair movement, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.
Hence according to this law what McCullum did is not right and Simon Taufel should have probably called it dead ball. But in the event of the interpreters of the law deeming wicket keeper is not a fielder then the law of the Wicket Keeper shall apply, Also if you see the video carefully its not only McCullam who moves but also the slip fielder Ross Taylor before Dravid actually plays the ball so as per the law shouldn't it be called dead?
However both the laws mentioned above gives quite a bit of room for the umpires to support in both cases when they apply the law and not. The term "significant movement" in the both the clauses are very ambiguous, what is significant to one umpire may not be significant to another. If I were the umpire , to me Ross Taylor's movement is significant. However by making the wording ambiguous and non-measurable the law gives the loop hole to umpires by telling they didn't deem the movement as a significant one!!
Movement of fielders in front of the wicket is truly distracting but should it be considered unfair for fielders behind the wicket too where the batsman is not actually distracted by the fielder?? This is different question all together. Consider this situation if by chance the ball popped out of McCullum's gloves and goes towards short fine-leg position wouldn't these two extra yards, that Ross taylor took before the ball reached the striker, help him take the catch easily? Wouldn't it provide the momentum to take a running catch?
The law doesn't descriminate between "front" fielder or "back" and rightly so.
At the end of the day I would consider Dravid was a touch unlucky.As a batsman I would , before taking strike see the position of all the fielders and for sure wouldn't attempt a paddle sweep if a leg slip was in place. Same would have been the case with Dravid too. He must have watched the fielders' position and seeing that there isn't a leg slip or leg gully in place attempted the paddle sweep only to find that McCullum has used the space given for wicket keeper to assume the position of a short leg slip and snapped the catch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFduX2uMH6o
Everyone praised the presence of mind of the wicket keeper to move sideways anticipating the sweep. But is it in accordance with the laws of the game??
As per law 40 : The Wicket keeper ( source : http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-40-the-wicket-keeper,66,AR.html)
4. Movement by wicket-keeper :It is unfair if the wicket-keeper standing back makes a significant movement towards the wicket after the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker. In the event of such unfair movement by the wicket-keeper, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball. It will not be considered a significant movement if the wicket-keeper moves a few paces forward for a slower delivery.
Hence in this case McCullum didn't move towards the wicket but sideways before actually the striker played the ball, which in accordance to the law is right and hence Dravid is indeed out!!
However , considering that Wicket keeper does play the role of fielder too in some parts of the game the law 41: Fielder should also be applicable to the wicket keeper
7. Movement by fielders: Any significant movement by any fielder after the ball comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker is unfair. In the event of such unfair movement, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.
Hence according to this law what McCullum did is not right and Simon Taufel should have probably called it dead ball. But in the event of the interpreters of the law deeming wicket keeper is not a fielder then the law of the Wicket Keeper shall apply, Also if you see the video carefully its not only McCullam who moves but also the slip fielder Ross Taylor before Dravid actually plays the ball so as per the law shouldn't it be called dead?
However both the laws mentioned above gives quite a bit of room for the umpires to support in both cases when they apply the law and not. The term "significant movement" in the both the clauses are very ambiguous, what is significant to one umpire may not be significant to another. If I were the umpire , to me Ross Taylor's movement is significant. However by making the wording ambiguous and non-measurable the law gives the loop hole to umpires by telling they didn't deem the movement as a significant one!!
Movement of fielders in front of the wicket is truly distracting but should it be considered unfair for fielders behind the wicket too where the batsman is not actually distracted by the fielder?? This is different question all together. Consider this situation if by chance the ball popped out of McCullum's gloves and goes towards short fine-leg position wouldn't these two extra yards, that Ross taylor took before the ball reached the striker, help him take the catch easily? Wouldn't it provide the momentum to take a running catch?
The law doesn't descriminate between "front" fielder or "back" and rightly so.
At the end of the day I would consider Dravid was a touch unlucky.As a batsman I would , before taking strike see the position of all the fielders and for sure wouldn't attempt a paddle sweep if a leg slip was in place. Same would have been the case with Dravid too. He must have watched the fielders' position and seeing that there isn't a leg slip or leg gully in place attempted the paddle sweep only to find that McCullum has used the space given for wicket keeper to assume the position of a short leg slip and snapped the catch!
4 comments:
Kalakara .. Proving that u were a umpire.
good to learn new things
keep posted on IPL also
Laws are all old.! We cannot keep sticking to them in this age of "powerplays" and appeals against decisions, the laws need to be rewritten, so that they are more fielding-side-friendly as well.
That ways i don't see anything wrong in a wicketkeeper moving sideways a bit!. The way things are right now, all laws favour the batsmen more and more.!
In fact if you ask me, there should be a new powerplay for bowlers, when the batsmen should bat blindfolded.! It will make the game more interesting.!
@srijith,
LOL, bowlers powerplay idea was really innovative and whacky..
on a serious note.. most of the law seem favorable for batsman bcos batsman has only one chance whereas bowlers do get many chances to get the batsman out!
excellent!
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