In the first T20I between Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, the umpire changed his decision of a wide ball down the leg side as Ellyse Perry attempted a reverse sweep shot. Here's what the Laws of Cricket say about the call.
New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates, standing in for Sophie Devine, won the toss and chose to bat first in Mackay. The White Ferns managed to post 143-7 in their 20 overs, thanks in large part to Bates herself, who scored 33 at the top of the order, and Maddy Green who scored 35. Australia used six bowlers, all of them picking up a wicket each.
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In their run chase, Australia lost Beth Mooney early, caught behind off Molly Penfold. But a couple of other senior pros in captain Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry set about the run-chase with aplomb, taking their side to 41-1 in five overs.
Spinner Leigh Kasperek then came into the attack, and her first ball was delivered down the leg side, with Perry attempting a reverse sweep, but missing. The umpire initially signalled a wide ball, but quickly changed his call, making it a dot ball.
Non-striker Healy was heard on the stump mic asking, "What's the matter? She didn't change anything," to which the umpire simply replied, "Reverse-sweeping," implying Perry attempting of the shot meant the ball would not be a wide despite going down the leg side.
Healy continued to remonstrate with the official, saying, "Doesn't matter, hands didn't change," but the decision had already been revoked.
A missed reverse sweep down the leg side - and the umpire changes his call for wide #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/spuRw3rPVQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 19, 2024
What do the Laws of Cricket say about the decision?
In limited overs cricket, deliveries going down the leg side are automatically called wide, in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.
Ever since the reverse sweep and switch hit shots became commonplace in cricket, there has been much debate over whether the changing of a batter's grip or stance means deliveries going down the leg side must not be called wide when they are attempted, as they are effectively on the batter's off side then.
According to the ICC's playing conditions for Women's T20Is, Law 22.1 states:
22.1.1 If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in clause 22.1.2
22.1.1.1 the ball passes wide of where the striker is standing and which also would have passed wide of the striker standing in a normal batting position.
22.1.1.2 the ball passes above the head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease.
22.1.2 The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within reach for her to be able to hit it with the bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
22.1.3 Umpires are instructed to apply very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this clause in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.
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Law 22.1.1 outlines when an umpire must call wide, and is dependent on 22.1.2, which defines the meaning of a ball "passing wide" of the striker.
In this case, the umpire must have deemed Perry's attempted reverse sweep as a "normal cricket stroke", by means of which she could have reached the ball. If he had not, it would have been a wide as the ball went down the leg side.
But in attempting the shot, Perry did not change her normal batting stance.
Healy's argument to the umpire ("hands didn't change") is irrelevant to the call of wide, as the crucial point is whether Perry's stance (i.e. feet) changed. They did not, and Healy is arguably right in saying this should have remained a wide. Had Perry moved her feet around, and altered her normal stance, there would have been an argument for this to be a legal delivery.
The decision ultimately had little impact on the result, though, as Australia got over the line with eight balls to spare, thanks to Phoebe Litchfield's excellent knock of 64 not out.
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