In the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Sunday (December 15), the third umpire controversially reversed his own decision of wide after batter Rajat Patidar made his dissent with the original call clear.
Off what would have been the final ball of the first innings of the summit clash between Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Shardul Thakur attempted a wide yorker to Rajat Patidar, batting on 75 at the time.
Patidar moved across his stumps in an attempt to reach the ball, but couldn't make contact as it passed the crease and went through to keeper Hardik Tamore. On-field umpire Kannur Swaroopanand called the delivery wide, a decision almost instantly reviewed by Mumbai skipper Shreyas Iyer.
As TV umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan reviewed the footage in slow motion, he said, "The batter has made the ball sufficiently within his reach. It's a fair delivery. He has brought the ball within his reach".
He recommended that the call of wide be overturned, which it promptly was by the on-field umpire. But as soon as the umpire signalled the reversal, Patidar did not take his stance for the next ball. Instead, he was gesturing wide of the pitch and remonstrating with J Madanagopal, the square leg umpire.
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After a couple of moments of confusion, the TV umpire asked to review the footage once more, saying, "I just need to see if the ball pitched outside the return crease. I missed that.
"The ball has pitched outside the wide guideline. I'm really sorry. Back to Swaroopanand [on-field], please. Swaroop, you can stick with your wide [call], please can you signal wide once again."
This time, the bowler began arguing with the on-field umpire about the unusual manner of the TV umpire making a call before reversing it. It meant Mumbai had lost their review, and off the extra delivery, Patidar hit a six to help Madhya Pradesh to 174-8.
What do the Laws say?
According to Law 22.1, "If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in 22.1.2, the ball passes wide of where the striker is standing or has stood at any point after the ball came into play for that delivery, and which also would have passed wide of the striker standing in a normal batting position.
"The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within reach for him/her to be able to hit it with the bat by means of a normal cricket stroke."
As per this Law, there is no mention of the return crease as a guideline for whether a delivery is wide or not, meaning it is not entirely clear why the third umpire wanted another look at the incident, and ruled the way he did.
While the ball pitched outside of the return crease, it still landed on the pitch, meaning there was no need to call no ball.
Mumbai went on to win the match and the title, chasing down 175 in 17.5 overs.
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