It happened on Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England, Only 44 overs were bowled at Old Trafford on Day 1 as the Weather is cold in Manchester and the Havoc winds were blowing at 16 Km/hr this led to play without any bails on either stumps.
This caused Interruption to match in many ways also there came a beach ball into the pitch because of this wild winds which Steve Smith sent to the Boundary line by playing a sweep shot, as this continued in the day the winds kept blowing the bails off from the stumps. This has forced umpires to take a decision of playing without no bails. But is this Correct according to the Cricket laws? have a look at those rules below
4 Laws of Dispensing the bails from stumps:-
“8.5 – The umpires may agree to dispense with the use of bails, if necessary. If they do agree, then no bails shall be used at either end. The use of bails shall be resumed as soon as conditions permit.”
“29.4 – If the umpires have agreed to dispense with bails in accordance with Law 8.5 (Dispensing with bails), it is for the umpire concerned to decide whether or not the wicket has been put down.”
“29.4.1 – After a decision to play without bails, the wicket has been put down if the umpire concerned is satisfied that the wicket has been struck has been struck by the ball, by the striker’s bat, person or items of his/her clothing or equipment as described in 29.1.1.2, 29.1.1.3 or 19.1.1.4, or by a fielder in the manner described in 29.1.1.5.”
“29.4.2 – IF the wicket has already has been broken or put down, 29.4.1 shall apply to any stump or stumps still in the ground. Any fielder may replace a stump or stumps, in accordance with 29.3, in order to have an opportunity of putting the wicket down.”
