Expert opinion that the second run, in the ICC World Cup final, should have been disallowed because the fielder, Martin Guptill, had released (thrown) the ball even before the batsmen had crossed each other in the process of taking that second run gains credence because of the deflection of the ball from the bat which resulted in a boundary for England (‘Sport’ page, “An error of judgment”, July 22). The second run, even according to the rules of the game, would have been perfectly legal if the batsman was neither run out nor if there was a bonus boundary because of the deflection. It was, admittedly, too much to expect the on-field umpire to check so many aspects in his decision-making process. But that did not prevent the third umpire from intervening after television replays and informing the on-field umpires about the ‘mistake’. It is sad that technological aids were not used when it mattered most which makes it even more baffling to read that the umpire does not regret the error of judgment.
V. Lakshmanan,
Tirupur, Tamil Nadu