Watch: ‘Has the captain called him back?’ – Jake Fraser-McGurk was allowed to continue batting after being given out in the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
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A month after blasting the fastest ever List A century off just 29 balls, Fraser-McGurk smashed another blazing ton for South Australia but this time in the Sheffield Shield. In reply to Victoria’s 278, he hit 12 boundaries during his 106-ball 101 to rescue South Australia from 16-4 to 252-all-out.
However, the innings started on a controversial note when he was given out on 19, caught at slip by Peter Handscomb while attempting a cover drive against left-arm spinner Doug Warren. Although the Victorians rejoiced at the umpire’s decision, Fraser-McGurk didn’t leave the crease before being allowed to continue with his batting by the opposition.
Fraser-McGurk explained what happened after play. He said: “I missed it by probably three feet, it spun a fair bit and I think it came off Sam Harper’s glove before Peter Handscomb caught it. Sometimes they (opposition teams) are just like ‘yay’ … and it could have been not a serious appeal, but then the umpire’s starting to nod his head and I was a bit in disbelief.
“So I started walking off, then seconds later he (umpire Michael Graham-Smith) changes his decision and the Vic boys weren’t too happy with that because they think they had a few unlucky decisions.
“But that’s the game, and in the end it was the right umpiring call and that’s what you want.”
The reprieve allowed the high rated Fraser-McGurk to eventually compile his first hundred in first-class cricket.
Watch Jake Fraser-McGurk get a reprieve | Sheffield Shield 2023/24
Bizarre scenes at Adelaide Oval as Jake Fraser-McGurk is given out caught, but is allowed to keep batting moments later 😲 #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/WaDPTGYkt3
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 29, 2023