IND vs AUS: Why did the third umpire give Washington Sundar not out? Know the rules of MCC

Washington Sundar Not Run Out IND vs AUS 3rd ODI: The spectators got a surprise in the third ODI match played between India and Australia in Rajkot on Wednesday. When Team India came out to chase the target of 354 runs, Washington Sundar came to open. Rohit chose him as his opening partner. However, Sundar narrowly escaped being dismissed in the second over. After this, discussion started among the fans regarding the umpire’s decision. The fans were divided into two groups. One said that Sundar was out, while on the other hand some considered him out. Commentators also participated in this discussion.

The umpire had to struggle

What happened was that when Josh Hazlewood bowled the ball to Sundar, he turned it towards midwicket. They ran fast, but the Australian sub-fielder standing here made a brilliant throw and scattered the wickets. The help of the third umpire was taken to decide on this runout. However, he too had to puzzle over the decision. It was seen in the replay that by the time Sundar’s bat reached the line inside the crease, the ball had hit only the stump. Whereas after going inside, the gulls were seen flying. The umpire finally declared him not out.

After he was declared not out, Akash Chopra, sitting in the commentary box, asked whether it is important for the lights to be on after the bells are removed because in many international matches they are also not lit. In many matches, wooden bells are used, while many bells do not have lights. So in such a situation would Sundar be out or not out? Akash also cited the Asian Games for this. There are no bells with lights in cricket matches.

Also read: IND vs AUS: Oye hoye…Virat Kohli flaunted his catch, celebrated by shrugging his shoulders

Understand the rules like this

Runout is defined in Law 38 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the law-making body of cricket. If we understand its rules in simple language, then any batsman is considered runout when he is unable to complete the run. That means his bat does not reach the crease completely. According to Rule 29.1.1.5 of the law, both sides of the bails need to be removed from the stumps, so that the batsman can be declared run out. In the case of Washington Sundar, when his bat went inside the crease, even though the ball had hit the stump, the bails had not been removed. In such a situation, he was declared not out.