As it hovered near his feet, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey advanced from behind the stumps in an attempt to gather it. However, in an unusual turn of events, Bedingham bent down and picked the still-moving ball up himself, before casually dropping it to the ground
Photo: Screengrab/ICC
South African batter David Bedingham on Thursday was at the centre of a rare on-field controversy on Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s. The incident occurred just three balls before the lunch break and sparked debate among players, umpires, and commentators alike.
The moment in question unfolded when Australian off-spinner Beau Webster delivered a ball that sharply turned back into the right-hander. Bedingham managed a faint inside edge, and the ball trickled dangerously close to his pad but remained in motion. As it hovered near his feet, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey advanced from behind the stumps in an attempt to gather it. However, in an unusual turn of events, Bedingham bent down and picked the still-moving ball up himself, before casually dropping it to the ground.
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This triggered immediate reactions from the fielding side. Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith showed visible interest in the incident, with Carey opting to appeal for 'obstructing the field'. The appeal, however, was turned down by the on-field umpires, who appeared unconvinced that any obstruction had occurred.
According to the Laws of Cricket, a ball is deemed dead if it becomes lodged in the batter’s equipment, typically the pad. In this instance, the ball had not come to a complete stop, nor had it been trapped. Given the fact that it remained in motion and was intercepted by the batter, the legality of Bedingham’s action fell into a grey area. The umpires, after a brief discussion, ruled in favour of the batter, but the episode left commentators and viewers divided in their interpretation of the law.
While the controversy added a layer of drama to the session, the broader narrative of the match remained firmly in Australia’s control. Following Bedingham’s reprieve, Australia tightened their grip on the game. Skipper Pat Cummins led from the front with a sensational bowling performance, claiming six wickets for just 28 runs. His final strike came when Kagiso Rabada attempted an ill-advised hook shot, only to find Beau Webster waiting at the boundary to complete a comfortable catch.
South Africa were eventually bowled out for a modest 138 in their first innings, conceding a significant first-innings lead of 74 runs. Cummins’ relentless accuracy and leadership with the ball capped off a dominant day for the Australians, who now head into the second innings with firm control and the momentum squarely in their favour.
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