In a bizarre incident during the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder Tim David led to the penalty of five runs being imposed on his team’s total.
In the final over of the Hurricanes’ innings, David hit Melbourne Stars medium-pacer Brody Couch towards long-on and ran a couple. However, in a bid to retain strike, the Singapore-born cricketer deliberately did not ground the bat at the non-striker’s end and was found more than a metre short of his crease.
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist described the moment as “backyard cricket” while applauding the umpires for picking up on the error.
“Tim David has run down and he knew he had to touch about a metre out of the crease to be able to get back and face the last delivery,” Gilchrist said during his commentary for Fox Cricket.
“When I saw they had set off for two, I thought he was gone … look how short he is.
“This is an attempt to get back on strike.
“Good umpiring. We’re quick to say in the Big Bash League, where there’s no DRS, we point out all the errors umpires make. That’s really quick umpiring.
“That is backyard cricket stuff and it was picked up.”
Under section 18.5.2 of the BBL playing conditions, umpires can either impose a five-run penalty, disallow the runs or return batters to their original end if they deem a short run deliberate.
Relive the moment here:
Stars will start their innings with 5 free runs courtesy of this… #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/lz9tRxNLLB
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 24, 2021
Fortunately for David, the Hurricanes won the contest by 24 runs.
After batting first, the Hurricanes posted a massive total of 180/6 on the board. Opening batter Ben McDermott played a scintillating knock of 67 in just 43 balls. With a quick-fire knock of 22 (12), David helped them get a strong finish despite Andre Russell claiming three wickets.
In response, the Stars could manage 156/9 in their stipulated overs as Riley Meredith and Tom Rodgers picked three wickets each for the Hurricanes.
Apart from a 40-ball 52 from Joe Clark, nobody in the Stars’ batting line-up managed to score above 30.
