‘Shaking your head’: BBL goes into meltdown over freak incident

There has been huge drama in the BBL finals with commentators left shaking their heads over a controversial incident.

A storm of controversy has divided the cricket world as the Thunder moved into the BBL final with a dramatic win over the Sixers on Friday night.

Sam Billings blasted 42 from 29 balls to guide the Thunder into Monday night’s final against the Hurricanes in Hobart as the Thunder ended a six-match losing streak to their cross-town rivals in front of 32,107 fans at the SCG on Friday night.

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The Thunder chased down the Sixers’ total of 7/157 with one over and four wickets remaining.

The run chase exploded in controversy in the ninth over when Matthew Gilkes was caught short of his ground.

Cricket commentators, including Aussie legend Mark Waugh, have been left divided over the incident as replays showed Jack Edwards appeared to dislodge the bails with his clumsy hands before the ball hit the stumps.

Hayden Kerr had produced a moment of magic with a direct hit at the striker’s end after he fielded the ball down at third man.

Jack Edwards was the luckiest man on the ground. Photo: Fox Cricket.

The camera angles didn't make it easy for the umpires. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Replays showed Edwards’ over-eager hands had made contact with the stumps and bails before the throw caught Gilkes well short.

A disappointed Gilkes was given out for 26 after the third umpire ruled the bails only lit up after the ball made contact.

Edwards must have been the most relieved person at the venue.

Waugh and Michael Hussey thought the decision was correct, but Mark Howard wasn’t so sure during the Fox Cricket broadcast.

“It looked messy, but I think to the letter of the law it was out,” Waugh said.

“Controversial,” Hussey said, according to foxsports.com.au.

“Howie you were shaking your head why is that?

Sam Billings and Matthew Gilkes of the Thunder speak to the umpires as they wait for the DRS call. Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images.

“I thought the way the third umpire went through that process was pretty clear, so why are you shaking your head?”

“You two are the experts, but I just feel if they were non zing bails, if they were your traditional bails, you are not giving that out,” Howard replied.

However, Hussey countered the rule is the zing bails have to be dislodged to constitute a wicket.

“But the rule is there are zing bails and it is when they light up,” Hussey said.

“So it is almost like his fingers were on top of the stumps and then the first time the bails went off, the ball was breaking the stumps. I think that is the right decision.”

“Yeah I think its right,” Waugh added.

But Howard believes in the long history of cricket Gilkes would not have been given out before the time of zing bails.

“It could well be the right decision, but it is going against 140 years of cricket because you have seen a hand hit the stump and the ball come in,” Howard said.

“Watch the bowler’s reaction.”

“Yeah he knows he hit the stumps,” Waugh admitted.

“He knows he knocked the bails off, but his fingers didn’t dislodge the bails, but the ball did.” Hussey added.

Matthew Gilkes’ reaction gave him away. Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images.

The side on view wasn't much better. Photo: Fox Cricket.

However, Waugh believes the Thunder only had themselves to blame for going for two when it wasn’t on.

“You saw the hand hit the stump, but it didn’t dislodge the bail,” Waugh said.

“It is a bit of a gift wicket. They were pushing hard for a couple of close twos in that over already.

“I just don’t think they needed to do that at this stage of the game. It was silly because they had the game under control.

“They are playing like they are behind in the game. They are being too frantic at the moment and they are just opening up the door for the Sixers.”

Speaking to reporters after the match, which the Thunder won by four wickets, wicketkeeper Sam Billings declared it was the “wrong decision”.

“It’s not out, is it? It’s not out,” Billings said.

“As soon as you see his hand moves the stumps, there’s obviously going to be a slight delay with the light.

“(Edwards) didn’t even say a word, which just about sums it up.

“Collectively around the world we have to find a better system with decision like that ... just make sure the calls are getting right the whole time.

“I thought it was the wrong decision straight away ... unless I’m getting that horribly wrong with the law of the game where the bail has to be out of the groove. It might be a law thing, I don’t know.”

— with foxsports.com.au

Originally published as ‘Shaking your head’: BBL goes into meltdown over freak incident