The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified about the incident during the second fixture of ICC Cricket World between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground where the final ball of the game resulted in James Anderson being given run out.
The whole confusion occurred when James Taylor was judged out by umpire Aleem Dar towards a confident leg before appeal from Josh Hazlewood. However, Taylor asked to review his dismissal immediately which indeed suggested the ball was passing down the leg side. Dar’s original decision was therefore overturned.
However, England attempted a single from the same delivery during the Australian’s appeal as Glenn Maxwell hit the stumps before Anderson could make his ground. After sometime and on observing several replays, the square leg umpire, Kumar Dharmasena called for Anderson’s dismissal.
But the Article 3.6a of playing conditions suggest the ball should have been declared dead at the time once the review was called for and Anderson should have been reprieved.
This controversial decision left James Taylor unbeaten on 98 and a chance to reduce the losing margin which might play a crucial role in the NRR (Net Run Rate) in case of tie of points effecting in qualification to Quarters.
Regarding the dismissal, ICC released a press note to clarify about it.
After the completion of the match, the Playing Control Team (PCT) met and reviewed the final ball of the game which resulted in James Anderson being given run out.
Article 3.6a of Appendix 6 of the Decision Review System (DRS) Playing Conditions states that the ball should have been deemed dead when the batsman (James Taylor) was given out leg before wicket (lbw). No further runs or dismissals were possible.
The PCT spoke to the England team management and acknowledged that the game ended incorrectly and it was a human error.