Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line.
John Holder’s verdict
1) Call and signal dead ball. The match only starts when the bowler’s end umpire calls “play” loud enough for the batsmen, the fielding side and your colleague to hear. That didn’t happen, so the match has not begun. It’s a bad error. That said, the striker shouldn’t have waited for the outcome of the delivery before making his case – he should have pulled away to make clear he wasn’t ready. Thanks to Malcolm Howard.
2) An unfortunate end to the match. The scores are level but the batting side is not all out as the tenth wicket hasn’t fallen. So under MCC law the match is drawn. If, though, you had ruled that the bowler deliberately obstructed the running batsman, you would have awarded five penalty runs, and the batting side would have won. Thanks to Richard Roberts.
3) Not out – and award five penalty runs to the batting side. Had the glove fallen off by mistake it would have been fine – the non-striker would have been run out. But the wicketkeeper deliberately removed his glove and threw it on the ground, so this was a situation of his own making. Thanks to Paul Webber.
Win a signed John Holder book
For a chance to win a signed copy of umpire John Holder’s forthcoming autobiography Test of Character, email your cricketing question, name and address to you.are.the.umpire@observer.co.uk. If your scenario appears in a future You are the Umpire this summer, you win a copy of the book. Terms apply.
Test of Character is out in hardback on 1 July, £18.99.
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