Debate about the symbolic spirit of cricket is raging again after bizarre scenes in the International League T20 in Abu Dhabi overnight.
In an incident reminiscent of Johnny Bairstow wandering out of his crease in the last Ashes series, Englishman Tom Curran had his bails removed while similarly wandering down the pitch before the over had apparently been called.
Curran, playing for the Gulf Giants against the MI Emirates, had touched his bat down in the crease after a run as Emirates fielder Kieron Pollard threw the ball back to wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran.
With the ball still in flight, Curran left his crease to inspect the pitch, prompting Pooran to whip the bails off and appeal for the run-out.
Pooran, who is also the captain of the Emirates team, spoke to the umpire, who appeared to ask whether the West Indian wanted to withdraw the appeal. Pooran refused to withdraw, and the decision was sent to the third umpire.
After about two minutes, the third umpire deemed Curran was out.
As the Englishman walked off the field, his Giants coach and former England manager, Andy Flower, approached the boundary and appeared to tell Curran to stand his ground. After a three-and-a-half-minute stand-off, Curran made his way back to the crease, as fellow Englishman Tom Banton — fielding in the outfield for the Emirates — appeared to wave him back.
Pooran shock his head in disbelief as the saga unfolded.
Curran's team needed 17 to win from 12 balls when the incident happened. He added three more runs before being dismissed, with his team eventually claiming victory.
It was unclear exactly why he was sent back to the crease, with Pooran seeming to stand by his appeal and the third umpire deeming Curran was out.
Fast bowler Azarri Joseph told the Emirates website after the match that it appeared someone had decided the umpires had called 'over' before Curran left his crease.
"In the moment, the ball was on the way back when he left the crease," Joseph said.
"It was out. But the umpires had already called over, so there’s nothing we could do about that."
