Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade was embroiled in a controversy involving England pacer Mark Wood during the first T20I of the three-match series in Perth on Sunday, October 9.
In the 17th over of Australia’s run-chase, Wade top-edged a delivery from Wood and the bowler was on his way to take a catch. However, as the ball was about to land, Wade appeared to push Wood out of the way and blocked him from taking a catch.
There was no doubt that Wade’s actions were illegal and he was ‘obstructing play’. The tourists were visibly upset at the actions of home team’s player, but skipper Jos Buttler refused to appeal.
After the match, Buttler said that he didn’t see the incident, so he wouldn’t know what he’d been appealing for.
“They said ‘did we want to appeal?’ and I said ‘no’.
“I just had my eyes on the ball the whole time, so didn’t really see what happened.”
Meanwhile, some Twitter users did not hold back from calling Wade a ‘cheat’. Quite a few of them also took to the micro-blogging site to share their thoughts after a video of the Wade-Wood incident went viral.
Here are some of the reactions:
Blatant obstructing of the field. Not like the Aussies to behave unfairly…#AUSvENG
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) October 9, 2022
Did they switch to playing football suddenly? Wade stopping the header pic.twitter.com/lyv6kHCyCD
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 9, 2022
Interesting Spirit of cricket talk Wade didn't know where the ball was but he did put his hand to stop Wood.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 9, 2022
Matthew Wade clearly obstructed Mark Wood. He may not have known where the ball was, but he definitely stuck his arm out to stop Wood #AUSvENG #Cricket pic.twitter.com/0AG8Y92yKF
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 9, 2022
Matthew Wade is a massive cheat
— Sherahn Hendricks (@sherahn) October 9, 2022
Matt Wade making his case for a post cricket AFL career…#AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/8p1FiESgwB
— Menners 🎙 (@amenners) October 9, 2022
That’s clearly obstructing the field ?!
Wade is pushing Wood there ?!#AusvEng #EngvAus https://t.co/xdcAMWbAFr
— Karthik Rao (@Cric_Karthikk) October 9, 2022
What Wade did there was clear obstruction and prevented wood from taking the catch. I don't understand the fielding team having to take the moral high ground and not appealing when the batter shouldn't be doing such stuff in the first place. pic.twitter.com/4l3vberUF8
— Meet (@raut_meeet) October 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/TheCricketArk/status/1579084295226142721
Why wasn’t Wade out obstructing the field? Why are the ‘Spirit of the game’ champions silent on this? Such hypocrisy #CricketTwitter https://t.co/xG9qSYosmb
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) October 9, 2022
Talking about the match, England skipper Buttler and Alex Hales put up a massive 132-run partnership for the opening wicket as the visitors posted a big total of 208 on the board. Buttler made a 32-ball 68 while Hales scored 84 runs in just 51 balls. In reply, David Warner took the match down to the wire with his knock of 73 in 44 balls. He got able supports from Mitchell Marsh (36) and Marcus Stoinis (35) but ultimately the home team fell short by 8 runs.
