Weird last-ball tactic in Large Bash League leaves everybody startled [Watch Video]
Sydney Sixers’ determination to retire an injured batsman just before the final delivery in a last-ball thriller in the Big Bash League play-offs on Wednesday stimulated a discourse in the cricketing world. The occurrence happened during the final over of Sixers’ play-off match against Adelaide Strikers.
In need of just two runs off the last delivery, Sixers’ decided to pull back injured batman Jordan Silk and send Jay Lenton to the non-striker's end. Lenton, the assistant coach of the side, had been taken in the team following a COVID outbreak. Sixers' Hayden Kerr knocked a brlliant unbeaten 98, which included a boundry off the last ball, to guide his team to the BBL decider.
Watch the video:
The @sixersBBL decision to retire Jordan Silk hurt on the final ball caught us all off-guard 🤔 #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/GbU2qfBgBi
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 26, 2022
A lot of people in the cricketing world believed that Sixers’ ruling may have been within the rules but against the spirit of the sport.. "It's in the rules but it's probably not in the spirit of the game," said Mark Waugh.
Earlier, Sixers had found themselves on the other side of the rulebook as their attempt to have Steve Smith play in the play-offs was impeded because of existing rules.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said Sixers were only making the most of a rule. "My initial reaction to this, my gut feel says I don't like it," he said.
"The Sixers have been pressed, it's been rammed home to the Sixers in the lead-up to this final series: 'We're sticking by the rules - rules that we made up two weeks ago - but we're sticking by them.' The Sixers have said: 'There's a rule book there, we're going to exploit a rule here'," Gilchrist added.
The incident left cricketing fans stunned with many criticising it and other praising the team for playing by the rules.
Sydney Sixers will come face to face with Perth Scorchers in the BBL final on Friday.
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First published: 27 January 2022, 12:42 IST