Davis backed by MCC after ‘dead ball’ call

MCC last night leapt to the defence of umpire Steve Davis after England pace bowler Steven Finn was controversially denied the wicket of South Africa captain Graeme Smith during the Headingley Test.

Finn had Smith caught at first slip by Andrew Strauss only for Davis to signal dead ball because the bowler had accidentally disturbed the stumps with his knee at the non-striker’s end.

Smith had scored six at the time and South Africa’s total was 38-0.

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The captain went on to make 52 and share in an opening stand of 120 with Alviro Petersen.

MCC, the guardian of cricket’s laws, stressed Davis was “within his rights” to signal dead ball if he felt Smith’s concentration had been affected.

Law 23.4 (b)(vi) states either umpire should call and signal dead ball when “the striker is distracted by any noise or movement or in any other way while he is preparing to receive, or receiving a delivery.

“This shall apply whether the source of the distraction is within the game or outside it. The ball shall not count as one of the over.”

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Jeff Crowe, the International Cricket Council match referee, confirmed Finn had accidentally broken the wicket at least three times previously and that both batsmen complained it was affecting their concentration.

The bowler was told to move over and the umpires decided that if it happened again they would call dead ball.

However, MCC admitted no specific law states that a bowler should be penalised for accidentally disturbing the stumps at the non-striker’s end, with Finn one of a number to have done so over the years in an attempt to get as close to the stumps as possible.

Rarely has dead ball been called on such occasions and MCC said it was “a moot point” whether Smith was indeed distracted.

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Smith hit two subsequent balls for four when Finn broke the wicket and the runs were disallowed when dead ball was called.

MCC admitted “a precedent may have been set” but said it “remains to be seen whether dead ball will be called on each occasion that this happens for the rest of the match”.

MCC’s Laws sub-committee will discuss the issue at its next meeting and also work closely with the ICC on issuing guidance to umpires.

England pace bowler James Anderson admitted the incident was a frustrating moment for the home side.

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“It was frustrating because he (Steve Davis) didn’t actually warn us he was going to do it,” said Anderson. “We were slightly perplexed by that, but I think the batsmen were saying it was distracting and they were in the umpire’s ear.

“It was frustrating for us but there’s nothing in the rules to say the umpire can’t do that, and it’s what he decided.”