Cricket in England has often been described as the gentleman's game, even as professional sport moved into the 21st Century with snickos, hotspots (with and without vaseline) & 3rd umpires.
The sport has rarely seen such high pressure in the 5-day version as when teams try to knock each other off the top spot in Test Ratings such as when India & England face off in this summer's series.
Yet on Sunday, England batsman Ian Bell was handed a dramatic reprieve in an innings of 159 as England moved into a dominant position in the second Test.
As the England pair headed for the pavilion, India appealed for a run out which was upheld by the umpires after TV replays.
As he left the field, he shook hands with several of the India players, underlining England's appreciation for Dhoni's gesture.
Report on Bell reprieve
There have been precedents however within this often confusing and strategic sport. The first occured back in 1974, and is described here by legendary commentator Geoffrey Boycott.
Boycott describes Kallicharan precendent
The second is more recent from Christchurch, and note both the commentators discussion on the umpire's role in this dismissal (highlighted by the comment "bad motions mate!"), and also Brendon MacCallum's pat on the batsman's tummy to say "better luck next time chief!"
Murali Run Out in NZ
All in all, bizarro stuff. Even if, in the end, the good name of cricket specifically, and the spirit of sport was ultimately The Winner...
Yet on Sunday, England batsman Ian Bell was handed a dramatic reprieve in an innings of 159 as England moved into a dominant position in the second Test.
Bell's innings - along with significant scores from Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior - helped the hosts plunder an extraordinary 417 runs on the third day, reaching 441-6 to lead by 374.
But the day is more likely to be remembered for a remarkable cameo within the context of the match which unfolded in the moments immediately before the tea interval.
Believing that a Morgan shot had gone for four, Bell (on 137) abandoned his crease and was chatting to his batting partner when Abhinav Mukund took the bails off.
With the crowd shouting their displeasure at the decision, the two teams held talks during the interval and India captain Mahendra Dhoni sportingly agreed to withdraw the appeal.
The sight of Bell running out after tea was greeted with cheers and applause, but the stand-in number three looked a touch subdued after being reinstated, scoring just 22 more runs before he was caught at slip off Yuvraj Singh.
Report on Bell reprieve
Boycott describes Kallicharan precendent
The second is more recent from Christchurch, and note both the commentators discussion on the umpire's role in this dismissal (highlighted by the comment "bad motions mate!"), and also Brendon MacCallum's pat on the batsman's tummy to say "better luck next time chief!"
Murali Run Out in NZ
All in all, bizarro stuff. Even if, in the end, the good name of cricket specifically, and the spirit of sport was ultimately The Winner...
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