In the Big Bash League on Saturday (January 18), two Melbourne Renegades bowlers were suspended from bowling for the same unusual reason.
After being put in to bat at the Docklands Stadium, Brisbane Heat openers Nathan McSweeney and Jack Wood made a sedate start – scoring 31-0 off the first four overs. They upped the ante soon after, and No.3 Matt Renshaw kept the tempo going after McSweeney's dimissal in the eighth over.
With the score at 103-1 after 11 overs, Renegades skipper Will Sutherland came on for his second spell, but was taken apart by Renshaw, who hit three sixes in a row – over midwicket, square leg and covers.
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Suspension No. 1: Will Sutherland
After the third six, Sutherland was summoned by the umpire, who was motioning to the area just in front of the stumps at the bowler's end – the protected area of the wicket where players are not allowed to run. Sutherland was then taken out of the attack, and Josh Brown completed the over.
Suspension No. 2: Fergus O'Neill
But just four overs later, the same situation unfolded, this time with bowler Fergus O'Neill – prompting Sutherland to cover his face with his hands in disbelief. He was also heard on the stump mic saying, "It's a T20 game!" to the umpire, perhaps suggesting that there should not have been any sanctions for (accidentally) running on the protected area, as there are in first-class cricket.
