Modern game responsible for Stuart Broad's reluctance to walk

THE irony will be lost on no one. Non-walking was introduced to cricket by the Australians, and in this Test they became a victim of its charms.

Stuart Broad

THE irony will be lost on no one, of course, least of all the Australian team. Non-walking was introduced to cricket by the Australians, and on day three of this Test they became a victim of its charms, when Stuart Broad was judged not out after a thick edge ended up in the hands of Michael Clarke at first slip.

Few international batsmen, if any, walk these days. Adam Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper, might have been the last of them, but even he was not immune to appealing in his role as wicketkeeper for catches proved not to have come off the edge. He managed to justify the distinction to himself, although there seems little difference in either.

So Broad should not be condemned for his refusal to walk, even though there would not have been many batsmen with the audacity to stand there after such an enormous deflection, certainly none with the kind of puzzlement to suggest he did not know why the Australians were appealing in the first place. The deflection was so big that Clarke at slip did not even appeal at first, although he cleared his vocal chords quickly thereafter when Aleem Dar, the umpire, did not budge.

Thin edge, thick edge - there is really very little difference. It was exactly this kind of howler that the DRS system was designed to eradicate, but another irony in the situation is that Clarke had used up both reviews for the innings, the second of them on a poor leg-before shout against Jonny Bairstow earlier.

Nor will Clarke have forgotten what happened in a match between these teams in Adelaide on England's last tour, during the final over on day four. Batting against Kevin Pietersen, Clarke turned the ball into the hands of short leg and stood there, unmoved. The difference on this occasion was that England had a review remaining, which they utilised, whereupon Clarke was given out.

Later, Clarke was given to apologise on Twitter for standing his ground after not walking for such an obvious edge. It is unlikely that Broad will do the same, although the only difference between the two situations is the outcome.

Both players knew that they had hit the ball, both stood their ground, and both were initially given not out. One an Englishman, one an Australian, both professional cricketers. For right or wrong, that is the modern game.