‘Give the bowler credit’ - Greg Chappell calls for dead ball rule to be reviewed

The high-octane clash between India and Pakistan literally had everything in store for the 90,000 seated in the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the billions witnessing the thriller around the world. However, a case of an over-the-waist no ball has been under much speculation in the T20 World Cup 2022 and has sparked off a controversy.

Former Australia cricketer Greg Chappell has called for a review of the laws set by the MCC. During the fixture between India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli faced an over-the-waist no ball and earned three byes off the subsequent free hit in the final over which eventually sealed the historic game for India on October 23, Sunday.

Greg Chappell wants bowlers to be credited

Chappell believes if the ball beats the bat and hits the stumps during the midst of a free hit, it should be declared as ‘dead’ to credit the bowlers as the game is already tilted in the favour of batters.

“I would review that rule to give the bowler credit for the dead ball if he is good enough to beat the bat and hit the stumps," Chappell wrote in his column for ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

“There is no doubt that the umpires got their calls right in the glare of the spotlight, but one must ask: is a ball that is hit for six really a no-ball? The height of a delivery is monitored closely, especially in late overs, because it was often been used as a run saving delivery. But it can’t be argued on this occasion that that was the outcome," he added.

According to the MCC’s Laws of Cricket, it states that a ball becomes dead when-

“20.1.1.1 it is finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper or of the bowler.

20.1.1.2 a boundary is scored.

20.1.1.3 a batter is dismissed. The ball will be deemed to be dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal.”