County Championship 2023

Watch: Bairstow celebrates catch, Labuschagne tucks bat under arm and walks away before ‘not out’ decision in County Championship

by Wisden Staff May 4, 2023 - 5:12pm 2 minute read

Watch: Marnus Labuschagne looked like he was about to walk off the field when Yorkshire celebrated a caught behind appeal in the County Championship, only for the umpire to deem him not-out on Day One at Headingley.

Facing up to Mickey Edwards, Labuschagne tried to defend a ball which nipped past his outside edge. As Jonny Bairstow (on his first-class return) safely pouched the ball in his gloves, bowler and all four fielders behind the wicket celebrated, thinking the ball had scuffed Labuschagne’s outside edge.

Such was their conviction in the wicket, there was no appeal to the umpire before they ran in to congratulate a triumphant Edwards. Labuschagne himself was seemingly in agreement with their verdict. He went to tuck his bat underneath his arm and walk away from the stumps before looking back to the umpire.

As the fielders had celebrated, the umpire had not raised his finger. He had only put both hands in his pocket and begun his walk to square leg.

Labuschagne quickly recovered his demeanour, scratching the ground with his bat as if he was in no doubt of his innocence. As Edwards and the Yorkshire fielders realised what was going on, they turned to the umpire in disbelief. Adam Lyth, Yorkshire’s stand-in captain, looked particularly aggrieved, continuing to appeal and clutching his head with his hands as he walked away.

As the umpire continued his walk to square leg, Yorkshire stood rooted to their spots unsure how to respond to what they (and seemingly Labuschagne) deemed a mistake.