adminLONDON. — Australia captain Steven Smith had no qualms about his part in the controversial dismissal of England’s Ben Stokes for obstructing the field in the second one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday.
World Cup-holders Australia won by 64 runs to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. But that was all overshadowed by the exit of Stokes during England’s unsuccessful run chase. In the 26th over, Stokes struck a straight drive which was stopped by bowler Mitchell Starc.
Left-arm paceman Starc then hurled the ball back hard towards Stokes who, leaning back and turning his head away, stopped it with a hand taken off the bat.
Australia appealed, believing Stokes had prevented a possible direct hit run out on his own stumps, and on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena of Sri Lanka and former England batsman Tim Robinson referred the issue to third umpire Joel Wilson.
The relevant cricket Law or rule talks about “wilful obstruction” and does allow batsmen to protect themselves from injury. — AFP.
Online Reporter