The Edges Of Law
As the Sehwag-Suraj Randiv episode showed, the laws of the game can sometimes make cricket look silly. Here are some bewildering possibilities:
- Scenario I One ball left, two runs to win. A batsman on 96 hits the ball towards the boundary, completes two runs running. The ball subsequently crosses the boundary, but he doesn't get a four—because the match was over as soon as he completed two runs. If he had not run, he would have got four runs and reached his 100.
- Scenario II One run is required off the last ball. It's a no-ball. In the excitement, the batsman doesn't see the signal, runs, and fails to safely reach the crease. As the match is over with the no-ball, he'd be not out. By the same token, if he hits a six or four (like Sehwag did), he doesn’t get those runs.
- Scenario III Two runs are required off the last ball. It's a no-ball, the batsmen try for a
single and one of them is out. In this case, he's out....THIS ARTICLE IS PRICELESS...
To read this piece, and more such stories in India's most exciting and exacting magazine, plus get access to our 25-year archives goldmine, please subscribe.