Was David Bedingam out of the WTC final? What does MCC law say about obstructing the field?
According to MCC Law 20.1.1.4 on the dead ball, whether it is played or not, the ball is dead if it is trapped between clothes or equipment items.
Controversies always follow South Africa vs Australia Test matches. At Lord’s, in the WTC Final 2025, it wasn’t very different. But Australia captain Pat Cummins avoided a major controversy by not pursuing an appeal against David Bedingham for obstructing the field.
The on-field umpires, Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, had a discussion and deemed it not out. Cummins did not ask for a review or even tried to push the umpires to refer it to the TV umpire, giving Bedingham a lifeline. The fiasco centred on whether the ball was dead or still in play, as Usman Khawaja appealed.
What happened?
In the 49th over of the SA vs AUS WTC Final, Beau Webster’s delivery took an inside edge off David Bedingham’s bat. The ball got lodged in his pads. As Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey approached the ball to catch it, Bedingham handled the ball and dropped it on the ground before Carey could catch it.
Usman Khawaja made a muffled appeal as the umpires decided to have a discussion. Illingworth said not out. As Cummins did not pursue the appeal further, the matter ended there. But on social media, the debates raged on.
What does MCC law say?
The controversy was about whether the ball was already dead. Through the replay, it seemed that the ball was still in the game as it was moving forward. Many pointed to MCC’s dead ball law 20.2, which tells “Is there a case for the umpire alone to decide whether the ball is finally deciding or not.” In this case, the umpires decided that the ball was dead.
Some told MCC Law 37 when obstructed in the area. 37.3.1 as per law “If delivery is not a ball, the striker is interrupting the ground, if the batsman’s wishing obstruction or distraction prevents the striker from being caught by the batsman.,
However, MCC’s dead ball rule is going by 20.1.1.4 and 20.1.1.5, the ball was considered dead, as Matthew Hayden also reported. In that case, the batsman will not obstruct the field.
The ball is dead
20.1.1.4: Whether it is played or not, it gets stuck between batting bat and person or between his clothes or equipment.
20.1.1.5: Whether or not, it is lost in clothes or batsman’s equipment or umpire clothes.
As soon as the ball was recorded in Bedingam’s pad, which is the device, it was not in the ball. It was considered dead. Thus, the umpires were right to call it a dead ball. With that argument, Bedingam was not out.
Editor’s choice
Cricket India vs India A: 8 Answer Gambhir will only search from practice match
Top stories
