A dramatic final-over finish between India and Japan sparked widespread debate after a contentious wide-ball decision was overturned during a rain-shortened five-over contest.
The historic India-Japan T20 international fixture turned out to be a memorable affair for all the wrong reasons for the Men in Blue. The Shreyas Iyer-led side faced the Japanese men’s cricket team in a one-off bilateral game, celebrating the historic bond between the two countries.
But India were termed bullies for what transpired during the game, which many believe influenced the result.
After rain impacted play on Tuesday, the India-Japan one-off fixture in Sano was reduced to just five overs. The visitors won the toss, and captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bat first. Japan got a dream start, restricting India to 32/4 and setting a 33-run target.
The India-Japan match got controversial
India held their nerve against Japan, who needed eight from six deliveries in the final over and had seven wickets in hand. Axar Patel was handed the ball and began the over with a dot and a single.
The controversy erupted on the third delivery after left-handed batter Alexander Shirai-Patmore attempted a reverse sweep but missed, and on-field umpire Chris Thurgate signalled a leg-side wide.
Axar was left fuming over the decision and argued with the umpire, saying that the batter had changed his chance. Captain Shreyas Iyer protested to leg umpire Chris Brown, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, who asked Thurgate to overturn the decision.
More from FirstcricketIndia eventually won by two runs, setting the record for the lowest total defended in T20 cricket.
What does the law state?
The MCC‘s Law 22.4.1 says that “The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide, if the striker, by moving, either causes the ball to pass wide of him/her, as defined in 22.1.2 or brings the ball sufficiently within reach to be able to hit it by means of a normal cricket stroke.”
The MCC laws do not specifically mention about reverse-hits or switch hits. But according to Cricinfo, the ICC has issued guidelines to their umpires regarding the same. Once such a shot is attempted, both sides of the wicket are treated as the off side, and a delivery must be at least 75 cm outside the outer stump to be called a wide.
The argument that the batter had not switched stance before Axar’s release point does not hold up, as the move’s timing has no impact on the ball’s outcome.
Furthermore, since the India-Japan match had no DRS or TV umpire, an on-field umpire is within his rights to overturn his decision before the next ball is bowled.
To say that the Indian players had bullied the umpires to change their decision may sound far-fetched in a tight game, as the right call was made, leading to a thrilling finish to a memorable game.