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Marcus Stoinis might not have got the Melbourne Stars over the line in their New Year’s Eve clash had the Adelaide Strikers convinced umpires to enforce a controversial rule.
Strikers international recruit Adam Hose reckoned Stoinis was too slow to face his first delivery and should have been subsequently timed out.
After a dismissal or retirement, the incoming batter must be in position to take guard or for the other better to receive the next ball within 75 seconds of the dismissal or retirement.
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If they do not make it to the crease in time, the batter must stand at the side of the pitch and allow the bowler to bowl at the unguarded stumps. If the stumps are hit, the batter is out.
Broadcast coverage did not capture the exact moment between Beau Webster’s dismissal and Stoinis taking his guard.
Hose said they appealed for Stoinis to be timed out, but were not successful.
“To be honest, I was at cover for his first ball and I’m pretty certain he timed out – 75 seconds – he wasn’t ready,” Hose said.
“I just hope that if it is the rule then we can play by it. That’s my only experience of the clock being run out.
“We asked the question, we appealed, but nothing happened. I’m pretty certain his time was up.”
Stoinis went on to score a match-defining 74 runs from 36 balls that included his four sixes in one over.
That set the Stars up on 7/186, which was ultimately enough to win as the Strikers fell short by eight runs at 5/178.
The Australian international said he was conscious of being timed out, but said the fielders weren’t in position.
“I was standing off because I could see the field moving,” said Stoinis.
“I actually didn’t know that I had to stand there regardless.”
In an earlier game against the Sydney Thunder, Hose said he was nearly on the receiving end of being timed out.
In that match, he was warned by his teammate Matt Short to get to his crease for fear he might elapse the 75-second threshold.
“Umpires have been very hot on me the last couple of games getting to the crease,” Hose said.
“I’ve been warned about it a few times and had to change my first-ball routine.
“I guess that’s why my frustration came in, because they’ve been very hot on me.
“I just hope, moving forward into the rest of the tournament, if it’s going to be a rule then it has to be enforced.”
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