Legendary Australian pacer Mitchell Starc on Thursday exposed a flaw in the newly introduced system to inadvertently monitor no-balls during his team’s Super 12 Group 1 event of the T20 World Cup 2021 against Sri Lanka.
Last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that third umpires would monitor the bowler’s landing foot after each ball, meaning on-field umpires would no longer have to track where the bowler’s front foot lands on the pitch. .
During Australia’s second T20 World Cup match in Dubai, the 31-year-old Starc came around the wicket of right-handed batsman Chamika Karunaratne in the final over of the innings and was punished with a boundary at mid-off.
But during his action, Starc’s back foot touched the return crease on the pitch.
Mitchell Starc bowling during Australia’s Super 12 match against Sri Lanka. (screengrab/foxsports)
As per Rule 24.5, “The back foot of the bowler must land inside and not touch the return crease in relation to the manner of his delivery.”
Although Sri Lanka should have been given a free hit for a no-ball, both the on-field umpire and the third umpire missed the spot on Starc’s back foot. Even former India batsman Aakash Chopra raised the issue on social media.
18.2. Mitchell Starc. It was a no-ball which the umpire missed. He cuts the return crease at the first point of impact… the third umpire is not checking it. His focus is on the popping crease. The on-field umpire isn’t checking for no-balls anyway. So who is responsible for this?? #avsl
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 28, 2021
Sri Lanka were restricted to 154/6 in the first innings and Australia chased down the target in 18 balls to register a seven-wicket win. While Stark finished with figures of 2/27, David Warner He put his doubts to rest after scoring 65 runs in 42 balls.
Australia fell against their first defeat of the tournament England on Saturday.
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