WTC 2025 Final: Why was David Bedingham not given out handling the ball on Day 2?

An interesting incident took place in the dying minutes of the first session on Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC 2025) final between Australia and South Africa involving David Bedingham.

A sizeable crowd turned up at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Thursday, June 12, to watch the riveting action in the biggest red-ball fixture of the year. Apart from watching a pulsating contest between bat and ball, they witnessed an amusing incident in the last over of the first session bowled by the Australian all-rounder, Beau Webster.

The seam-bowling all-rounder bowled a nip-backer on a length, and Bedingham looked to defend the ball but only managed an inside edge. The ball got lodged in his pad, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who was standing up to the stumps, tried to sneak in and take the ball in his grasp. However, David Bedingham reacted swiftly and took the ball out with his right hand and dropped it onto the ground.

Usman Khawaja, standing at slips, seemed to be the only Australian fielder to appeal as he felt that the right-handed batter had handled the ball. However, umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth had a quick chat before returning to their positions.

"The ball is considered dead once it gets lodged in the pad," legendary former Australian opener Matthew Hayden informed from the commentary box.

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What do the MCC rules say?

As per the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the ball is considered to be dead when it gets trapped between the equipment of a batter. Rule 20.1.1 states the following:

“The ball becomes dead when whether played or not, it becomes trapped between the bat and the person of a batter or between items of his/her clothing or equipment.”

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06:09 PM · Jun 12, 2025

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South Africa went into Lunch at 121/5, trailing Australia's first innings total by 91 runs. However, the Proteas lost two quick wickets on the other side of the break, with Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen departing in the same over, bowled by Pat Cummins.