01-13-2021, 04:31 AM
(01-13-2021, 04:14 AM)Professer E link Wrote:Can't agree more, what Smith was doing was mind bogglingly stupid, so why do it? Since when do players from the fielding side scratch at the wicket? The only defence he has is that the umpires didn't pull him up instantly ob it, so it wasn't deemed to be in a place considered "in play"?Umpires probably saw him shadow batting and thought its just Smith being weird as per normal, scuffing the guard marks away is what they probably didnt see at the time. I have seen opposition batters shadow bat off the pitch, mainly openers who think they might be batting soon and getting used to the light etc but never seen a fielding team player scratching at the guard marks.....
I think Smith knew what he was doing and took it one step further by working on the guard marks, mind you Pant shouldnt have been out there anyway after milking his injury to avoid keeping so maybe we will call it even.
I'd be changing the rules on injured players not being allowed to bat higher than their usual initial position and on fielders fiddling with the batting area.