An amusing incident in Melbourne Renegades’ Big Bash League clash with Adelaide Strikers saw Renegades batsman Beau Webster seemingly given his marching orders before BBL umpire Greg Davidson changed his mind and scratched his nose instead.

The incident occurred on the third ball of the 17th over, bowled by Rashid Khan, who at first look had Webster struck plumb in front after missing a googly. That’s apparently what Davidson thought, raising his finger to shoulder height before changing his mind and scratching his nose instead.

“Not out, I didn’t give it out”, Davidson was heard saying on the stump mic, repeating his face-touching motion to show he had a case of itchy nose rather than itchy trigger finger, and tapping his hands together to indicate the presence of an inside edge.

Mic’ed up on the field, Adelaide Strikers fielder Cameron White commendably credited the umpire for arriving at what he felt was the right decision, even if he took a circuitous route to getting there.

“Good decision, that was the right decision,” White said. “It’s a good decision if he changes it. All we want is the right outcome. I’d much prefer that than the wrong decision. I think he obviously initially thought it was out and then realised that he did get an inside edge on it.”

One player who might not be so magnanimous is the bowler himself, with Rashid turning and starting to celebrate when seeing Davidson had started to raise his finger. “Poor old Rashid Khan turned around before the nose scratch,” said commentator Mel Jones, upon seeing a replay of Rashid fist-pumping in the foreground and Davidson having changed his mind in the background.

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Though the Strikers didn’t manage to claim the wicket of Webster, they and Rashid had the last laugh. The away side secured an 18-run victory, with the Afghan leg-spinner claiming the Player of the Match award for his figures of 2-15 from four overs and innings of 25 from 16 balls.

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