Controversial run out of Butler by Sachithra

Serious criticism by England ...
over how Sachithra dismissed Butler

After the Sri Lankan cricket team struck victory over the Englishman on the last one-day game in Birmingham with a 6 wicket win, Sachithra Senanayaka dismissing England player Jose Butler has given rise to a controversy.

According to rules of the game of cricket it is quite clear that  in accordance to Rule 42.11 there is no doubt that Butler was out. However, the English media tries to interpret this incident as something against morals.



When Sachithra was bowling his 42nd over it was Chris Jordan who was facing him. At the other end was Butler, the non-striker. However,Butler attempted to go for a run on two occasions before Sachithra sent the ball down and he had warned Butler about it. But on the third occasion Sachithra knocked off the bails when Butler began his run. At that moment what the umpire could have done was consult the Sri Lankan captain and grant the dismissal. In fact Angelo Matthews was in favour of the dismissal.

According to standard rules, if a batsman moves out of his batting crease, a bowler who is ready to bowl his delivery has the option of breaking the wicket at his end and appeal for a dismissal. At this point when the umpire calls it as a dismissal, it is signalled as a dismissal and the captain of the fielding side has the option of once again cancelling the decision and thus give an opportunity for the said batsman to remain in the crease as before. But even after two warnings, having committed the same mistake once more became the reason why Matthews as he said was why he showed no opposition to the decision. 

It was not only at this final game that Butler had tried to steal a run. He had made this mistake in the one-day match when he scored a century at Lords. "This time even after we advised him twice and he repeats it again, we have nothing else to do," said Matthews.

Alistair Cooke, captain of the England team said that though it was decided as a dismissal according to laid down rules, it was not expected so when considering the Gentleman Qualities of the game of cricket. What former England captain Alex Stewart  said was that according to rules of cricket, the Sri Lankan team is permitted to make such a request. But what Phil Tuffnel, a former spinner of the English team said that it would be considered as a very  debasing act.

Another former England captain Michael Waughn had told Twitter website that this blunder falls squarely on the shoulders of captain Matthews. It is the captain who should take the correct decision in instances like this. Waughn had said that it is he could decide whether this was a dismissal or not.

Whatever it is, while an allegation has been made against Sachithra Senanayaka who bowled outswingers after the 4th match by the 2 umpires and 3rd umpire to the ICC over an issue that Sachithra has 'chucked' the ball is on the cards and a report on Butler's controversy has been called for within 21 days at a time when he had been involved in this very last game gives an indication that the English media had tried to bring upon a big pressure on Senanayaka.

Information -- Dhammika Ratnaweera

Video depicting the controversial dismissal, from BELOW