Tom Curran received a reprieve while batting in the ILT20 on Saturday (January 25), as opposition captain Nicholas Pooran called him back after a run out in order to adhere to the "Spirit of Cricket".
Curran was batting for Gulf Giants against Pooran's MI Emirates in the 19th match of this season, with a target of 152 after Tom Banton top-scored for MIE in the first innings with 56.
With 18 runs needed from 13 balls, Mark Adair hit a full delivery from Alzarri Joseph to long-off. The batters ran through for a single, with Curran running to the striker's end.
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He arrived in the crease comfortably, before immediately tapping his bat on the ground twice and leaving his ground as the throw from the deep came in to wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran. Pooran whipped off the bails and appealed for Curran to be run out, but the batter appeared bemused at the appeal – possibly because it was the last ball of the over, and he was heading mid-pitch to chat with his partner. However, there had been no call of "over" from either umpire.
Discussions took place between the on-field officials before the appeal was referred to the third umpire, who ruled Curran out. As he began to leave the field though, Gulf Giants head coach Andy Flower asked Curran to wait, and appeared to be protesting the decision on the boundary edge.
After a few seconds of Flower's dissent, the appeal was presumably retracted by Pooran as Curran was allowed to return to the crease and continue batting. He was eventually dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings, before Zuhaib Zubair completed the chase and took the Giants to victory.
Speaking after the match, Pooran said, "[It was a] tough one today. Not enough discipline with the bat and ball. Called him (Curran) back in the spirit of game.
"We haven't respected the game enough, the opposition and our plans. If we keep making same mistakes, it will cost us. Hopefully, we'll try to reflect and we need to pick ourselves up. It's definitely frustrating but we need to keep our emotions in check."
What do the Laws say?
According to Article 20.1.1.1 of the MCC's Laws of the Game, "The ball becomes dead when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or of the bowler."
In addition, according to Article 20.1.2, "The ball shall be considered to 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."
When Curran had left his ground, the ball was not dead, as it had been on its way to the wicketkeeper from the outfield. In addition, the appeal from the fielding side meant that it could not be clear to the umpire that they had "ceased to regard it as in play".
'Learned nothing from Jonny Bairstow's mistake' – Reactions to Curran's non-dismissal
The incident was reminiscent of the now-infamous run out of Jonny Bairstow during the 2023 Ashes, who had also left his crease before the ball was dead, to be stumped by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Image credit: X / @ILT20Official
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