WATCH : Jason Roy adjudged out for obstructing the field

06/24/2017

English opener Jason Roy has become the first batsman in the T20 history to be dismissed for obstructing the field in the second T20I against South Africa yesterday. While rushing back after being denied a run by Liam Livingston, Roy ran across the pitch and the ball struck him on his boot.

The incident took place in the 15th over of the England’s run chase in which Liam Livingston dabbed a shortish ball of Chris Harris to point and Roy, before getting any call from his partner, ran for a potential single from the non-striker’s end. But Livingston knew that there was never a single on offer and refused to go for it. Roy raced back to his crease, but in the process, he ran across the pitch and got himself between the fielder Andile Phehlukwayo and the stumps. The throw subsequently hit Roy on the boot and South African players appealed straightaway for the wicket.

After having a brief chat among themselves, the umpires decided to go upstairs and the replays suggested that the third umpire could have made no other decision than asking Roy to take a long walk back to the dressing room, since Roy had run across the pitch while keeping an eye on the release of the ball. His wicket proved to be a turning point in the game as South Africa clawed their way back to win the game by three runs.

After the defeat, England captain Eoin Morgan described Roy’s dismissal as a "50-50 call" but Sky Sports' commentator David "Bumble" Lloyd, who was a former umpire himself, said that the decision was made according to the laws of the game.

"It was probably a 50-50 call. You could see both sides of it," England's captain, Eoin Morgan, said. "Everyone in the changing room thought it could go either way so it's not massively controversial. You can see why the umpires gave him out. Jason obviously looked at the fielder but after that he ran in a straight line so that's why it was a 50-50 call. They were certainly entitled to appeal and the spirit of the game is open to interpretation," Lloyd said.

"It is for the crowd and for social media but the umpires know the laws of the game and he changed direction. You'll notice that he's on one side of the pitch and turns around and he's on the other side of the pitch. It's just the laws of the game and you can't do that.

"The lad is so disappointed at the dismissal but South Africa are absolutely in the right. Jason Roy, or any player, can talk all they like - you can't go from one side to the other and then try to regain your ground."

WATCH : Jason Roy adjudged out for obstructing the field

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