Watch: West Indies captain Kieron Pollard’s team was reduced to 10 players on the field after he left his position at short-leg to stand behind the boundary for a free-hit.

The incident occurred during the rescheduled second ODI between West Indies and Australia at Barbados. Australia, batting first, were reduced to 57-6 when Akeal Hosein began the 17th over, with players stationed near the bat for Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc.

The second delivery of the over had to be re-bowled after the square-leg umpire noted that there were more fielders outside the inner circle than allowed. With a free-hit being signalled, Pollard, who was standing at short-leg, made his way past the boundary ropes.

Since the rules of a free-hit dictate that the field cannot be altered from the previous delivery, Pollard couldn’t have positioned himself somewhere else. With an expansive stroke expected from Starc for the free-hit, the skipper decided to stand outside than be in the line of fire.

As Pollard stood outside the field of play, helmet on head, the on-air commentator mentioned that he was out “from a safety standpoint”.

With West Indies reduced to ten men for the delivery, Starc swung the ball to the leg-side, right through the position where Pollard was stationed, but only managed to score two runs.

Australia managed to recover to post 187 on the board, but West Indies eased to a four-wicket win, recovering from a stutter of their own to level the series 1-1.

Watch the incident here:

One for the 'never seen that before'

No-ball called, so field must stay the same for the free hit. But Pollard (understandably) has no interest in staying at short leg where he had been standing. So he goes off the field and WI field with 10 men for the free hit pic.twitter.com/u6pTWJUXzG

— msc media (@mscmedia2) July 25, 2021

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