Australia pacer Pat Cummins has had a slice of luck on Day 1 at the Gabba, claiming the wicket of Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan off a very near no-ball.
The delivery looked a clear no-ball to the naked eye, with the rules stating an ‘illegal delivery’ is when no part of the front foot is grounded or raised behind the popping crease at the first point of contact.
That wicket broke a 49-run partnership as Rizwan and Asad Shafiq set about correcting course following a collapse on the first day of the first Test in Brisbane.
Pakistan started well, going into lunch without having lost a wicket, though openers Shan Masood (29) and Azhar Ali (37) were dismissed three balls apart, with Haris Sohail and Babar Azam only adding a run each.
Iftikhar Ahmed scored seven, bringing Rizwan to the crease for a quickfire 37 before his controversial dismissal.
Here’s the video:
It doesn't come any closer than that!
This was judged a legal delivery! #closematters@Gillette | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/Dtl2fCo2if
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2019
“Some part of your foot must land behind the line. You can clearly see there, as the rubber has landed, it’s all in the white zone. The white zone is owed to the batsman. The batsman owns that. Anything behind is the bowler. To me, that is an illegal delivery,” said former Aussie wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist on air.
