Victorian batsman Sam Harper has sparked a furious debate after being given out obstructing the field in his side’s one-day cup match against South Australia.
The clash was just five overs old when the drama unfolded after Dan Worrall’s attempted run out.
As you can watch in the video above Harper stepped down the wicket to block a delivery back to the bowler, who threw the ball at the stumps – only for the batsman to step in front and block it with his pads.
Worrall immediately appealed to the umpire as discussions began on and off the field.
“The factor here, obviously Harper went down the wicket and (it’s) whether he made his ground or not when the ball was thrown back,” former Australian international Andrew Symonds said.
“I’d say if he’s behind the crease he wouldn’t be obstructing, but if his feet were in front of the crease he may well be given out here because you can’t do that.”
Law 37.1 states: “Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he/she willfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.”
Law 37.2 adds: “A batsman shall not be out Obstructing the field if obstruction or distraction is accidental, or obstruction is in order to avoid injury.”
As the replays rolled on Symonds came to the conclusion that Harper was out.
“If you’re behind the crease you’re quite within your rights to protect yourself but that there, he’s prevented the ball – the ball would’ve gone on to hit middle and leg stump,” Symonds said.
The umpires soon agreed after two minutes of conversations among themselves, with Harper and batting partner Nic Maddinson, and South Australian captain Travis Head.
Head chose not to withdraw his team’s appeal for obstructing the field, officially ending Harper’s innings on seven runs.
Symonds moved to shut down claims of poor sportsmanship by South Australia given the rules left little room for justifying Harper’s actions.
“It’s not as if the South Australians are showing any sort of bad spirit. It’s a rule and it’s part of the game. Harper’s well short of his ground,” he said.
Sydney Thunder batsman Alex Ross, who was once given out obstructing the field in the Big Bash League, poked fun at the situation on Twitter.
“Elite club @sammyharps1,” he wrote.
Changing his line and sliding towards the stumps as he risked being run out off a direct hit from a throw in the deep, Ross deflected the ball on to the stumps.
He was given out obstructing the field.
The rule is rarely used at the top levels but was also invoked during a 2015 one-day international between England and Australia.
In a similar situation to the Harper incident, Ben Stokes left his crease to block a ball that Mitchell Starc promptly threw back at the stumps.
But the Englishman stopped the ball when he threw his left hand out while turning back to his crease, and he was given out by the umpires.