Fans are up in arms over a controversial no-ball call for Mitchell Starc and not for Vignesh Puthur. (Credit: X)
Mitchell Starc once again proved why he is one of the most sought after bowlers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he almost single-handedly got Delhi Capitals over the line against Rajasthan Royals. With only 31 to get in 18 balls, Starc gave away only 8 in the 18th over and got rid of the set batter Nitish Rana, courtesy of a brilliant inswinging yorker. Rajasthan needed 9 off the last over, and Starc once again delivered for the Capitals by giving away 8 runs and taking the match to a super over. It was in the fourth ball of the super over that he was called out for a back-foot no-ball.
MCC Laws of the Game - No Ball Explained Below
For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride
21.5.1 the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery.
21.5.2 the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or raised
- on the same side of the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps as the return crease described in 21.5.1, and
- behind the popping crease.
If the bowler’s end umpire is not satisfied that all of these three conditions have been met, he/she shall call and signal No ball.
While Starc's no-ball was a fair call since his back foot touched the return crease upon landing, Mumbai Indians' Vignesh Puthur seems to have gotten away with a similar offence against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Puthur's back foot in the last and second last ball of the 15th over seemingly appears to have touched the return crease upon landing, although Sports Now cannot independently verify the claims made by fans on 'X'.
"Mitchell Starc's backfoot no-ball is a good opportunity for me to show the no-balls that Vignesh Puthur bowled on consecutive deliveries in one of the games. This should answer those who were seeking a proof," a fan wrote, adding, "The umpiring and the technology continue to remain farcical in the IPL. No one has even noticed the no-balls that Vignesh Puthur has bowled, and I could only wonder what the 3rd umpire has been doing?"
"Isn't the first point of contact of the back foot when it lands what matters?" another fan asked, while some thought that the officials are answerable for not being able to be consistent in their decision-making.
There is no concrete evidence to suggest that the officials were wrong, with some claiming that the first point of contact was inside the return crease, which makes it a legal delivery.
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