Send law book to umpires: Shane Warne, Steve Smith fume at Nigel Llong over dead-ball rule
Australia vs New Zealand, Boxing Day test Day 1: According to the rule books, a leg bye can’t be added unless a shot is being offered or evasive action is taken
HIGHLIGHTS
• Steve Smith indulged in a heated debate with umpire Nigel Llong on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test
• Nigel Llong denied Smith leg-byes on two occassions
• A furious Shane Warne said the umpires should be given rule books
Steve Smith was left fuming during the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand at Melbourne when on-field umpire Nigel Llong denied him leg byes on two occasions on Thursday.
The incident happened during the 26th over of Australia's innings after they were put in to bat first. In the final over before the break, when Smith was dealing with Neil Wagner, who had bagged his wickets in the previous Test, the Australian tried to rotate the strike after being hit on the body by a short-pitched delivery but was stopped by Llong.
It happened again in the same over as Llong denied him another leg-bye. According to the rule books, a leg bye can’t be added unless a shot is being offered or evasive action is taken and Llong was not convinced that Smith had taken evasive action to the delivery that hit him on the body.
However, this left Smith flaring up at Nigel Llong as he got indulged in a debate with the umpire over cricket's dead-ball rule.
Meanwhile, former Australia cricketer Shane Warne, who was in a commentator's role, also looked unhappy with umpire's decision.
"That’s evasive action, that’s the wrong call," Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket. "Might have to send a law book to the umpires during the break I think."
"The umpire’s wrong. Steve Smith has every right to be angry because the interpretation Nigel Llong is giving at the minute is incorrect."
"The rule is if you evade a short ball and it hits any part of your body you’re allowed to run even if you don’t play a shot."
"I’m sure someone’s going to have a chat with Nigel Llong in the lunch break because Steve Smith’s livid and rightly song."