‘This has descended into the realm of farce’ – Da Silva called back onto the field in bizarre circumstances
Josh Da Silva’s century on the third day of the Grenada Test match helped give West Indies a significant lead, one that will almost certainly prove to be a match-winning one.
On a up-and-down surface, Da Silva brought up his first Test hundred as he patiently added to West Indies’ lead on the third morning in the company of tailenders Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.
There was, however, a moment of confusion the delivery after Da Silva reached the milestone. Da Silva was beaten by a Craig Overton delivery that shaped in towards him, and was given out caught behind by the standing umpire.
Da Silva didn’t have any complaints about the decision and only reviewed the decision after his realisation that West Indies had three reviews remaining. Despite sending the decision upstairs, Da Silva walked off the field to a warm reception from the Grenada crowd, in seeming acknowledgement that he had indeed touched the ball.
However, technology showed that Da Silva did not in fact hit the ball. By the time that conclusion had been reached, Da Silva was already off the pitch and had to be called back on.
Mark Butcher described the moment on commentary for BT Sport. Butcher said: “This has descended into the realm of farce. He called for the review as an afterthought, he felt that he’d hit it, he thought he was out but in fact, before the decision came in from the TV umpire to reverse the decision, Josh Da Silva had left the field. Quite remarkable.”
“I’ve never seen it before,” added his co-commentator Curtly Ambrose.
Butcher continued. “His senses must have been so over-over-heightened from making the hundred. He was sensing contact from the bat that didn’t exist. I’ve never seen that before. I’ve never seen a batsman give himself out before, with the exception of the odd terrified tailender back in the day of Walsh and Ambrose.
“Josh Da Silva just tucked the bat under his arm and walked off. And then, almost as an afterthought, [he] decided that, ‘Well, we’ve got three reviews left, I might as well use one,’ but he kept walking towards the pavilion!”
