Former Sri Lanka skipper Anjuna Ranatunga feels England's Jos Buttler should have been recalled in the spirit of the game during fifth ODI between England and Sri Lanka
SL's Sachithra Senanayake appeals after running out Englandu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0099s Jos Buttler on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images. (Inset) Arjuna Ranatunga
Colombo: Former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday said Sri Lanka was right to run out England's Jos Buttler, but felt he should have been recalled in the spirit of the game.
Arjuna Ranatunga
"We should have got him out and then (Sri Lankan captain) Angelo (Mathews) called him back to play," Ranatunga told AFP. "I am not blaming Angelo or (bowler) Sachithra (Senanayake), but that is what I would have done."
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"Our (on field) warning to Buttler a couple of times may not go down in the record books, but if we recalled him, then it would be recorded and showed that we had properly warned him."
Senanayake ran out Buttler as the non-striker backed up during Sri Lanka's 3-2 series-clinching victory in the fifth and final ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
SL's Sachithra Senanayake appeals after running out England’s Jos Buttler on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images
Sri Lanka captain Mathews, asked by the umpires if he wanted to uphold what was a legitimate appeal, did not call Buttler back. Ranatunga insisted that Sri Lanka was well within the rules of the game, but it would have been better if Buttler was given another chance.
England captain Alastair Cook reacted furiously to the dismissal, saying that a "line had been crossed" by the Sri Lankans. "I've never seen it before in a game," Cook said.