Big-match batsman refuses to obey umpire’s ruling

Published : 9:54 am  April 11, 2011 |  One comment  |     |   (11)  |  

Believe it or not, a batsman from Tissa Central College refused to obey the umpire’s Word as Law and stayed back at the crease in their so-called “big match” against Kalutara Vidyalaya at Kalutara on Saturday.

The un-named batsman held up the match for half an hour and his Tissa team refused to continue when the umpires called for play to re-commence after the match referee Palitha de Alwis intervened to settle the dispute upholding the on-field ruling.

The match was then called off by the umpires Susil Chandrasiri and Lalith Nandana.

A Daily Mirror investigation has revealed that the batsman held his ground after being ordered by his superiors behind the boundary line to stay put. He was ruled out caught behind and Tissa were reeling at 130 for 9, a lead of just 11 runs and more than an hour’s play left which favoured a Kalutara Vidyalaya  win.

An eyewitness told the Daily Mirror that the incident reflected a total break-down in values of sportsmanship and blamed a disintegrating establishment in the country for players becoming a law unto themselves.