India v England

Watch: Shardul Thakur accidentally bowls ‘backwards’ delivery

by Wisden Staff March 18, 2021 - 6:15pm 2 minute read

Watch: After removing both Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan earlier in the over, India seamer Shardul Thakur failed to hold on to the ball during his delivery stride and ended up sending the ball backwards, resulting in a dead ball, during the fourth T20I between India and England.

The England pair both holed out during the 17th over of the chase as Thakur swung the game back in the hosts’ favour. But with dew dampening the ball, problems for the bowlers always seemed likely. Rather than the ball slipping out late in his action leading to a high full-toss as is often seen in such conditions, however, the ball left Thakur’s hand even earlier and went almost directly upwards.

While some thought it should be a no-ball, it was instead signalled as a dead ball. Law 20.4.2.8 states that “Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when the bowler drops the ball accidentally before delivery.”