What was the incident?

Amelia Kerr was found short of her crease on the last ball of the 14th over while attempting a second run. Having pushed the ball towards long-off to Harmanpreet Kaur, Kerr and non-striker Sophie Devine took a single. After seeing Kaur still holding on after the run was completed, they ran for a second before Kerr was run out.

However, the umpires ruled it not out, stating that the ball had been dead after the first run. Replays also showed the umpire handing bowler Deepti Sharma her hat after the completion of the first run, suggesting they had called the ball dead and the second run would not count.

Why was it called a dead ball?

The incident left the Indian team frustrated, with skipper Kaur having a prolonged conversation with the umpires.

But why was it deemed a dead ball in the first place? According to the MCC Laws 20.1.2, a ball will be dead when “it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”

Though the on-field umpire handed the hat back to Deepti after the first run, a gesture usually used to signal the end of an over, it's clear neither the batters nor the fielding side thought the ball was dead and went ahead with their actions. However, despite that, the officials called it a dead ball. This would appear to be a mistake, but the umpires at least managed not to compound their error with another one, by allowing Kerr to be run out regardless.

Clause 20.6 states that once the ball is dead, the umpires will not be able to revoke the decision and bring the ball back into play. Thus, even though both batters and the Indian fielders still considered the ball to be in play, once the umpires made their decision, they could not revoke it.

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