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England skipper Jos Buttler has explained why he chose not to appeal against Matthew Wade obstructing the field, saying he did not want to put the partisan Australian crowd off ahead of the World Cup.
With their opening T20 match on a knife’s edge, Wade — Australia’s supreme finisher and a World Cup hero from last year — top-edged a short ball from Mark Wood and later prevented the bowler from taking a catch near the batter’s wickets when he stuck out his arm to prevent him from moving to the ball.
While initially it appeared as though Wade, whose helmet needed replacing after the ball clipped it on the way up, was merely disorientated and did not know where the ball was, he clearly made a play at the bowler in the heat of the moment.
Buttler who was watching the ball behind the stumps in his role as wicket-keeper was asked whether he wanted to appeal, but quickly turned down the opportunity for Wade to be removed. At the time the left-hander was on zero, with Australia 6-170 from 16.3 overs in their pursuit of 209 for victory.
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The decision looked like costing England, as Wade hit the last ball of the ball 17th over from Sam Curran over the ropes for six. It lead the home side requiring 22 runs from the final two overs.
Ultimately the decision did not prove costly, as Wade departed with three deliveries left paving the way for England to seal an eight-run win.
Buttler, who earlier set the game up by smashing 68 from 32 in an opening stand of 132 alongside Alex Hales (84 off 51), was asked about the incident and said he thought it wise not to become public enemy No.1 so early in the tour.
“They asked if I wanted to appeal, but I thought we’re here for a long time in Australia – it would be a risky one to go for so early in the trip,” he said.
He later admitted he might have reconsidered had the match been of significant consequence.
Nonetheless, social media lit up following the indecent, with Australian Test star Usman Khawaja amongst the man bemused by the obscure mode of dismissal and why England chose not to enforce it.
Cricket’s ethics have been brought into question in recent weeks, with India’s Deepti Sharma recently opting to remove English star Charlie Dean by the mankad method — the wicket sealed victory for her nation.
The latest incident once again brought cricket’s laws — and when they should be carried out — into the spotlight.
Buttler & Hales run riot on Australia | 00:57
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