Mark Waugh and the cricket world has been left stunned after a 'ridiculous' Big Bash rule nearly cost the Melbourne Renegades the match against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday night. Against the Renegades, Joe Clarke and Beau Webster both hit the roof with lofty shots in the second innings as the Stars fell six-runs short in their run-chase.
Under the previous rules, the ball would have been called dead. However, after Aaron Finch hit the roof in BBL2, rules were changed to award a six.
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But against the Renegades, at least one of the shots was favoured to be easily caught with both balls not going to reach the boundary. Aussie cricket great Waugh was adamant the rule needed tweaking.
"Should not be six runs," Mark Waugh said. "100 per cent Junior," Mark Howard replied.
"12 runs is a big difference in this game, let alone the fact that they would have been out."
Waugh wasn't alone in his assessment of the rule. Finch was wearing a microphone during the match and told the commentary team that a sox shouldn't be awarded.
"That would have been two simple catches tonight," Finch said. "They were both straight up."
Waugh reiterated that at minimum the ball should be counted as dead. "It’s cost them 12 runs which is wrong,” Waugh said during Fox Sports commentary.
“It’s just not going for six. At the minimum it should be a dead ball. Twelve runs is a big difference in this game – let alone the fact they would have been out. Can’t do much about that but there’s no way it should be an automatic six. They’ve got to have a look at that rule. It’s not right the way that rule sits at the moment.”
Many in the cricket world called for the rule to be changed.
All Stars bowler Adam Zampa offered up a quirky backyard cricket rule to be introduced for when the ball hits the roof. The ODI spinner said a 'one hand, one bounce' interpretation could be introduced to keep the game going.
"Yeah, why not?" he said after the match. "Honestly, it's a little bit bizarre that they call it a six when the ball goes straight up in the air.
"As a bowler you expect that deceive a batsman and at least be in with a chance of getting a wicket. Maybe build the roof a bit higher."
Zampa said the rule didn't favour the bowler – considering they could have been wickets – and needed a change.
"When that happens, you know how lucky you are," Zampa said.
"It's nothing about getting on top of the bowler or anything like that. It's just pure luck."
with AAP
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