Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls from behind the wickets: The Indian fast bowler was seen bowling from behind the stumps.
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During the third ODI of the ongoing India’s tour of Australia at Melbourne, India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was witnessed bowling from behind the stumps. To his dislike, Australia captain Aaron Finch moved away which forced the umpire to call a ‘dead ball’.
The decision particularly didn’t go down well with the bowler for he was seen expressing his odds with the umpire. Soon, India captain Virat Kohli also engaged in a conversation with the umpire regarding the same.
It would not be wrong to say that the sight of a bowler bowling from behind the stumps might be the first-ever in cricket. While it is unlikely for it to have happened in the past, there is less clarity whether it is an illegal move.
Before the same happened, former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni had ran up to the bowler to share an opinion.
Going by commentator and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar’s on-air comments, Dhoni might just have suggested the move to Bhuvneshwar after watching Finch bat out of his crease. Gavaskar’s point of a bowler bowling from behind the stumps when a batsman bats out of the crease (to negate the swing) makes sense behind the move.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls from behind the wickets
This one was called a dead ball… #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/8V7ElRzZd9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2019
I don’t think it should be legal. By this logic, someone can bowl from the edge of the boundary line. Unfair for batsmen.
— Srivatsa Hejib (@iHejib) January 18, 2019
One way of not overstepping, is there a law that says he cant do it ?
— allan ingleton (@allaningleton) January 18, 2019
Should be a no ball as it wasnt legal and seems to be done on purpose
— bazza (@bazza_200) January 18, 2019
Shouldn’t have disgraced this sport by oh wait..#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/X6OaeOgnNp
— Brown Panther (@ImoRoflme) January 18, 2019
While Bhuvneshwar’s move might have not have succeeded, he yielded success on the following delivery when he trapped Finch in front of the wickets. Moving across, Finch got hit right in front the stumps due to which he decided to not review the dismissal.
The dismissal saw an extension of Finch’s lean patch in international cricket. Having scored 14 (24) with the help of one four today, Finch has scored 26 runs in three matches in this series. Watch the full video of Finch’s dismissal below:
This one was called lbw… #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Kno6FrQvm6
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2019
