The Game Needs To Start Helping Itself

Tristan Lavalette analyses some controversial incidents Down Under and wonders whether the sport is letting itself down too often

- Tristan Lavalette

Let me paint this utterly farcical scene. The Perth Scorchers had essentially a must-win match at home against Sydney Sixers to stay in the hunt for the Big Bash League finals.

They were set a seemingly sizeable 178 runs but suffered an early blow when opener Michael Klinger, the BBL’s all-time leading run-scorer, was dismissed in the second over slicing a short Ben Dwarshuis delivery to third man. Stephen O’Keefe, the catcher, was unsure if he got his hands under the ball after he dived forward, leading to a review.

After the usual painstaking deliberation, third umpire Nathan Johnstone was satisfied O’Keefe’s catch was clean and Klinger was sent packing after making just two runs. It all seemed relatively standard stuff until it emerged that Klinger was dismissed off Dwarshuis’ seventh legal ball of the over.

Fortunately for everyone involved, the major blunder didn’t have an impact on the final result. The Scorchers chased down the target with ease to win with seven balls to spare ensuring the fiasco was left somewhat in the background.

Still, how on earth can this happen in 2019? It is, perhaps, understandable at the local level on the weekend when those weary-eyed had a miscount. But it is inexcusable at the elite level – with the match broadcast on two channels in Australia – and ensured much humiliation for all involved.

It is astonishing none of the officials were on the ball. Umpires Geoff Joshua and Simon Fry failed to call over after the sixth delivery, while match referee Bob Stratford and off-field officials Johnstone and James Hewitt also failed to notice the error.