How Prudent Are Cricket Laws?: An Examination of the Brendon McCullum Incident

(Photo by Ross Setford/Getty Images)

The lap shot is very common in cricket these days. Also common is the anticipating wicket-keeper moving toward leg-slip in hope of catching the ball. But the law says it isn't allowed. 

Here, I take a look at one such incident involving Rahul Dravid and Brendon McCullum from a Test match earlier played in the year at Wellington and discuss in accordance to cricket laws 40.3(a) and 40.4.

Case 

In what transpired out to be the most stunning and controversial moment of the day, McCullum, anticipating Dravid’s paddle sweep, moved to his left hoping to catch the ball in the afternoon of the third Test in Wellington as you can see from the video below.

And when he did, only barely, leaving the bowler, batsman, commentary experts and viewers dumbfounded in what was a remarkable piece of anticipation, some were busy digging up the law book to seek if that was, indeed, fair!

Law 40.4: Movement by wicket-keeper

It is unfair if the wicket-keeper standing back makes a significant movement towards the wicket after the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker. In the event of such unfair movement by the wicket-keeper, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball. It will not be considered a significant movement if the wicket-keeper moves a few paces forward for a slower delivery.

So, was McCullum a genius or a cheat?

Argument: Cheat

One reading of law 40.4 for wicket-keeper will tell you that McCullum was wrong in moving (almost four or five feet down the leg-side) even while Dravid was shaping to go down on his right-knee to lap it through the vacant leg-slip.

The replays showed time-and-again that the moment Rahul even slightly indicated of playing the dingy lap, McCullum was pedaling frantically to his left to cover that shot and Taylor from the First Slip was moving to his left in case Rahul got a top edge, or even if Rahul missed the ball, he would be able to cover for a wicket-keeper not in his position.

All said and done, according to the law, the ball was dead the moment McCullum started making significant movement down the leg even before Rahul had played his shot. Definitely, it was not a case of moving forward a few paces for a slower delivery!

Argument: Genius

There is this wonderful thing in sport, which more often than not separates the best from the rest. It is called anticipation.

A batsman can anticipate a short ball and be ready on his back foot to play the shot. When you anticipate well, a batsman can make a quick bowler bowling 150 kmph look silly.

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