Ian Bell Run Out Controversy – England vs India, Second Test match, Day 3 (31/07//2009)

The controversial run-out of England’s Ian Bell at the stroke of tea on the third day of the second Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge, which threatened to take shape of one of the biggest controversies in contemporary Cricket, was overturned during the tea interval after MS Dhoni withdrew the appeal at the behest of Andrew Strauss, then England captain, and England coach Andy Flower.

The incident happened in following manner – Ian Bell smashes a shot to the boundary and is stopped on the rope by Praveen Kumar. Bell, thinking that he’d got a four, walks down the wicket towards waiting Eoin Morgan thinking tea had been called and was stumped by wicket-keeper MS Dhoni.

After the players had gone in for tea, the Indian team came out to a bombardment of booes from the crowd, which soon turned to cheers when Bell walked out alongside Morgan to return to the crease.

This was a big talking point, due to the fact that by the letter of the law India had done nothing wrong, but then questioned their sportsmanship and in the end huge respect has to be shown to Dhoni for reversing the decision.

Here’s what the LAW 27 (8) for withdrawal of appeal reckons:

“The captain of the fielding side may withdraw an appeal only if he obtains the consent of the umpire within whose jurisdiction the appeal falls. He must do so before the outgoing batsman has left the field of play. If such consent is given, the umpire concerned shall, if applicable, revoke his decision and recall the batsman. The umpire may alter his decision provided that such alteration is made promptly. This apart, an umpire’s decision, once made, is final.”

Thanks largely to quick wittedness of Dhoni that in the end all ended well.