South Africa’s batsman, David Bedingham, found himself at the heart of an unusual incident at the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s. The drama unfolded on the second afternoon as Bedingham faced Beau Webster and inside-edged the ball into the flap of his pad. There was a tense moment as Australia’s wicketkeeper, Alex Carey, made a swift attempt to collect the ball, prompting a sense of déjà vu over “Spirit of Cricket” debates reminiscent of his past controversies.
“I panicked big time,” Bedingham admitted afterward. “Carey was right there, standing up and looking to grab it. The umpires declared it a dead ball, but it must have looked dodgy when I picked it up and dropped it.”
The umpires, Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney, stepped in to signal that the ball was dead, stopping any potential debate in its tracks. Despite this, Bedingham’s reflexive action to throw the ball to the ground as Carey approached momentarily suggested a breach, reminding many of past controversial appeals.
Post-match, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins commented on the situation, indicating he would have withdrawn the appeal in any case, though similar leniency wasn’t shown in the infamous incident two years prior involving England’s Jonny Bairstow. “I’m just glad they withdrew the appeal,” Bedingham said, noting the relief that nothing escalated. “The slips advised me, ‘don’t panic. Just leave it…’ Yet at that moment, I had panicked big time.”
In the earlier Bairstow case, Carey’s quick-thinking to stump him after wandering from his crease had stirred significant controversy, including altercations with MCC members and criticism from England captain Ben Stokes.
This latest incident, like the Bairstow one, aligned with the game’s laws. Fraser Stewart, MCC’s head of cricket, noted that the decision to call it a dead ball was ultimately beneficial for the game, although meticulous interpretation of Law 20.1.1 (regarding dead balls) could have argued otherwise.
The laws clarify scenarios for a ball to be deemed dead, such as becoming trapped in the batsman’s clothing or equipment. For instance, back in 2001 during a Test in Ahmedabad, England’s Michael Vaughan faced dismissal for “Handled the Ball” under different circumstances.
Bedingham’s close shave serves as a reminder of how easily cricket’s nuanced laws can suddenly become central to the sport’s most riveting moments.
