R Ashwin takes the catch as Sam Curran moves away. (AFP Image)
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New Delhi: > Although he made a fighting, unbeaten 24 to ensure England’s collapse didn’t end up being worse than it was, 20-year-old Sam Curran finds himself in the eye of a storm for his role in the dismissal of Ben Stokes on the first day of the Edgbaston Test. Stokes was the seventh English batsman to be dismissed in England’s score of 285/9 on the first day.
The incident in question occurred in the 75th over of the innings, when R Ashwin induced a leading edge off the bat of Stokes and the ball flew directly towards Curran, who was standing at the non-striker's end. Seeing the ball coming at him, Currant rapidly moved away from it's path, making it easier for Ashwin to take the catch and dismiss the danger man.
Curran's involuntary action to move out of the way of the ball could perhaps have been an instinctive reaction in the fear of getting hit. However, some former players weren’t amused, saying he should have held his ground to make it harder for Ashwin to complete the catch.
Just seen Stokes dismissal for the first time...why didn't S.Curran stand his ground at the non strikers!? Instead he moved out of the way to give Ashwin a clear right of way to catch the ball. 😞
The non striker always must hold his ground... but if he makes one movement towards the bowler.. then it’s deemed as obstruction.. then the question is .. which batsman is out? https://t.co/PTA74P0vSg
There is a line of thought that had Curran not moved out of the path of the ball, then he could have been adjudged out for obstructing the field. However, the law dictates that if a player does so deliberately, the umpires can deem him to be out. However, there is no law in place that the player should move away from the trajectory of the flying ball and make it easy for the fielder.
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