Spirit of cricket debate reignited as Tom Curran called back to the crease after being given out in T20 tournament

Tom Curran appears to have learnt nothing from Jonny Bairstow’s costly Ashes mistake but his blushes were saved by an act of true sportsmanship.

A bizarre run-out incident occurred in the ILT20 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, with English all-rounder Tom Curran failing to learn from Jonny Bairstow’s iconic Ashes error by casually walking out of his crease before the ball was dead.

However, in an incredible display of sportsmanship, his blushes were well and truly spared as he was given a second chance.

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Curran, who had been playing for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL before heading to the UAE, wandered out of his crease after running a single.

But he did so before Kieron Pollard’s throw from long off had landed in wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran’s gloves.

So after catching the ball in his gloves, the West Indian without hesitation whipped the bails off and appealed.

Tom Curran inexplicably wandered out of his crease. Image: X

A lengthy discussion then ensued between on-field umpires before the third umpire eventually stepped in.

And after around two minutes ruled that Curran was out.

However, as the all-rounder shook his head in despair and made his way off the field, fellow Englishman Tom Banton, who was fielding near the boundary, told his countryman to go back to the crease, withdrawing his teams appeal.

At the time Curran’s Gulf Giants needed 17 to win from 12 balls with four wickets in hand and it was a pivotal moment in the match.

The Giants ended up winning the game on the final ball of the match and if it wasn’t for Banton’s sportsmanship the result could have been entirely different.

Tom Curran (middle) had been playing in the BBL with the Melbourne Stars (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The incident also reignited the iconic ‘spirit of cricket’ debate with a fierce discussion erupting on social media.

Former Australian player Lisa Sthalekar wrote on X, “Oh dear. What is it with English cricketers not staying in their crease before the over is called. What is the hurry to chat to your mate the other end?”.

While another X user added: “This needs to stop … stay in your crease … once you’re out, you’re out … umpires arguing with players appealing shouldn’t happen … give your decision … seems to be a common theme from England batters, Ian Bell or Charlie Dean or Jonny Bairstow and now Tom Curran”

Prominent cricket journalist Peter Lalor also took to X to write: “EXTRAORDINARY SCENES. Tom Curran has learnt nothing from Jonny Bairstow’s mistake”.