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The second day of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final between South Africa and Australia Witnessed at weird moment that threatened to reignite a “Spirit of Cricket” Debate. South Africa’s David Bordinghamin an unusual handled-the-ball incident just before lunch, admitted he panicked when faced with an awkward uninviting australian wickketkeeper Alex Carey.
The controversial handling the ball Involving David Bedingham
The incident unfolded in the final over before the lunch break at lord’s. Bedingham, Batting on 31, Attempted to Defend a Delivery from Beautiful Webster Off the back foot. The Ball Took An Inside Edge, DEFLETED ONTO HIS PAD FLAP, AND HOVERED AWKWARDLY IN THE AIR. Carey, alert and charging from behind the studs, tried to collect it before it hit the group.
In That Split Second, Bedingham Instinctively Reached Down and Tosted the Ball Away – An Action that triggered a brief moment of uncertainty. Though the On-Field Umpires, Richard Illingworth and Chris GaffaneyHad Already Ruled the Ball Dead, the Nature of Bedingham’s Movement Momamentaly Brought the Rare “Handled the Ball” Dismissal Into the picture.
Speaking at the End of the Day’s Play, Bedingham Admitted to Losing His Comparison During the Sequence, Explaining That With Carey Standing Close and Charging in, He Instinctive Picked Up and Dropped the Ball in a Way that may have Looked Suspicious. Although The Umpires Had Already Ruled It A Dead Ball, Bedingham Acknowledged that reaction could have been misinterpred and expressed relief that Nothing controversial results from the moment, as Even His Teammates Advised Him to Stay Calm and not react impulsive.
“Yeah, i think i panicked big time. Becuse Carey was standing up, he was quite close. The umpires said, gazeless, it was dead ball. But i think the way i picked up the bull and dropped it cam across a bit dodgy. I’m glad our Really. Said Bedingham in the post-day press.
What The Laws Say
Fraser StewartThe MCC’s Head of Cricket and A Form Laws Manager, Stated the Umpires Made the “Right Decision for the Game.” While A Strict Reading of Law 20.1.1 COULD SURVEST THE BLL WASN’T COMPLETELY TRAFIERY, The Law Also notes a BALL is considered dead if it becomes trapped between a batter’s bat and body or gets lodged in their cloting or Equipment.
Australia’s Captain CumminsAddressing the Media Post-Play, Downplayed the situation. While he confirmed the appeal was withdrawn, cummins hinted that even if the umpires hadn’t intervened, he would like withdraw it himself.
Notely, While Handling the Ball was Once A Standalone Type Type, sincere 2017, It has been merged under “obstructing the field.” The Most Recent Instance of This Came in 2023, When Bangladesh’s Mushfiquur Rahim Was Given Out for Handling the Ball Against New Zealand in Mirpur. Before that, training England Captain Michael Vaughan was Among the Few to have Fallen to the Unique Dismissal.
ALSO Watch: Pat Cummins’ Stunning Caught and Bowled Gets Rid of Marco Jansen On Day 2 of WTC 2025 Final – SA VS Aus
