MCC has issued an official statement and concluded the long-standing debate on the run out of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The batter was given out by the third umpire, accusing him of obstructing the field while running between the wickets.
Was it a proper run-out? The question remained for days. Now, the MCC explains the rule properly and clearly states that the umpire made no mistake by giving a run-out verdict to Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi was accused of obstructing the field
On the last ball of the fifth over of the KKR vs LSG first innings at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Raghuvanshi had to leave the field after scoring only 9 runs from 8 balls before the controversial moment, when the third umpire, after checking the incident on the monitor, found that the KKR batter obstructed the field in an attempt to return to the crease safely.
As he obstructed the field, according to the third umpire, the batter was given out. The KKR team management was absolutely furious over the umpire’s decision. Some cricket fans across social media also shared their thought on the incident.
MCC explains the law of ‘obstructing the field’
In a recently published article, MCC has confirmed that the umpire did exactly what he needed to do to maintain the law of cricket. When can a batter be accused of obstructing the field?
“Law 37.1.1 says that either batter is out Obstructing the Field if they “wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.” That means that the obstruction must be deliberate, which can be hard to determine,” MCC mentioned.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi made one mistake when they tried to get back to the crease. When he set off for a run, he was on the offside of the pitch. But, when they turned to return to his end again, he crossed the pitch and started to run on the leg side. As he switched the side of the pitch, before the fielder threw the ball, the umpire had no choice but to consider it as obstructing the field.
“A batter who changes direction while running, particularly one who changes direction to run on the pitch, or takes any other route that would not be the quickest way to the other end, is making a wilful act,” according to MCC’s Official Interpretation of the Laws of Cricket.
The official release of MCC further reported, “Angkrish Raghuvanshi clearly meets these criteria. When he sets off for his run, he is on the off side of the wicket.”
“As the ball reaches the fielder, he crosses to the middle of the pitch, which is not somewhere he should be running in any event, and then turns and runs back on the leg side, putting himself between the ball and the wicket. This is, by definition, a wilful act.”
KKR won the match against LSG through a Super Over
However, despite the early departure of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, KKR managed to win the match thrillingly against the Lucknow Super Giants. As both of the teams scored 155 runs in the stipulated over-limit, the match was concluded through a super over.
KKR will be up against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. The Orange Army are the most in-form side in the competition as they are on a five-match winning streak.
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