Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur was involved in a “bit of argy-bargy” with Sophie Devine after the latter sent down a delivery in a 2023 Women’s Big Bash League clash with the batter not yet ready, with the decision of whether it was a dead ball eventually being referred to the third umpire.

Harmanpreet was on strike for the fifth ball of the 15th over with Melbourne Renegades at 120-3 against Perth Scorchers. As the India skipper was getting ready to face the delivery, marking her stance and tapping the bat on the ground, Devine was already in her run-up, and proceeded to bowl the ball. This caught Harmanpreet, who only looked up as the ball was bowled, by surprise.

As the ball came at her, Harmanpreet stepped away from her batting position and expressed her frustration at Perth captain Devine, gesturing to her. According to the commentators, “she [Harmanpreet] had barely tapped her bat down and Devine was on her way past the umpire. She literally looked up as Devine bowled the ball. There was no way on earth that Harmanpreet Kaur was ready.”

Devine’s irritation seemingly stemmed from the fact that she was ready to bowl and that the batter was keeping her waiting. “No, she [Harmanpreet] wasn’t ready but what Devine is saying is that ‘I’m ready. I’ve started my run-up.’ It is the duty of Kaur, for the player who is facing strike, to be ready for the bowler.”

MCC’s Law 20.5 confirms the commentator’s statement: “The ball ceases to be dead – that is, it comes into play – when the bowler starts his/her run-up or, if there is no run-up, starts his/her bowling action.”

Devine, who believed she had bowled a dot, was then engaged in a conversation with Harmanpreet, who kept suggesting she was not ready to face the ball and should be called a dead ball instead. According to clause 20.4.2.5, “Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when…the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over.”

The on-field umpires decided to go up for a review to assert whether it was a dead ball and if Harmanpreet was ready to face the ball, amidst Devine’s question, “What are we reviewing?”

Perth Scorchers’ wicketkeeper Beth Mooney, who was mic’d up, was asked about the incident as it was unravelling. “It was a bit of an argy-bargy going on. Harmanpreet and Soph – I’m actually not sure who would win that battle because Harmanpreet scares me a little bit. I think Soph’s just getting annoyed that she’s taking forever and she taps about 10 times before she looks up. To be fair, the umpire wasn’t going to look at that till she got up, so I’m on Soph’s side. But don’t tell Harmanpreet that.”

The third umpire eventually called it a dead ball, per the MCC laws, with the umpires confirming that the striker was not ready for the delivery and in no position to attempt to play it. The rebowled ball was a dot.

Harmanpreet made a 49-ball 52 as her side finished on 171-6.

Watch Harmanpreet Kaur and Devine’s incident here:

"There's a bit of argy-bargy going on between Harmanpreet (Kaur) and Soph (Devine), and I'm actually not sure who would win that battle because Harmanpreet scares me a little bit," says Beth Mooney as she describes what's happening… 😅 #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/LOpRPKetyg

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 3, 2023