Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder Tim David will have some explaining to do with his teammates following a costly but hilarious failed attempt to get back on strike.
During the final over of the Hurricanes’ first innings today, David hit the ball out to long on and attempted to go for two runs, with Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell pushing for a run out attempt at the same time.
While it appeared initially that David had made it back for a pair of runs, the umpires held up play for a quick chat before replays confirmed David had failed to return to the striker’s end within the rules, after falling more than a metre short of the crease at the other end.
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The Hurricanes were penalised, with the Stars handed five runs to kick-start their innings.
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist described the moment as “backyard cricket” while lauding the umpires for picking up on the error.
“Tim David has run down and he knew he had to touch about a metre out of the crease to be able to get back and face the last delivery,” Gilchrist said in commentary for Fox Cricket.
“When I saw they had set off for two, I thought he was gone … look how short he is.
“This is an attempt to get back on strike.
“Good umpiring. We’re quick to say in the Big Bash League, where there’s no DRS, we point out all the errors umpires make. That’s really quick umpiring.
“That is backyard cricket stuff and it was picked up.”
Fortunately for David, the Hurricanes finished on top with a 24-run victory over the Stars.
At the time of the review between the umpires, Maxwell was speaking live on air and admitted he was stunned when initially it appeared that David had made it back for two appropriately.
“I thought I should’ve run him out,” Maxwell said.
“It was a pretty flat throw and I’ve picked it up as he touched … I know Tim David, we played in the IPL together, I know he’s not that quick.
“We will take the penalty, that’s nice.”
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