Thursday's match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede witnessed an incident that showed how umpires have to do things which go beyond signaling fours and sixes and declaring batsmen out or not out
Mumbai Indians' Kieron Pollard hands over the wooden bail to umpire Rod Tucker at Wankhede on Thursday.
Thursday's match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede witnessed an incident that showed how umpires have to do things which go beyond signaling fours and sixes and declaring batsmen out or not out.
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Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard hands over the wooden bail to umpire Rod Tucker at Wankhede on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
Some batsmen, particularly West Indians, have the habit of marking their guard when they arrive at the crease with the help of a bail. The wooden piece of equipment is hammered into the ground with the bat to leave a mark.
However, the costly LED bails used in IPL prevent players from doing so.
Hence, umpires carry wooden bails with them. Kieron Pollard, who came in to bat when MI needed 69 off 42 balls against KKR, requested umpire Rod Tucker for a wooden bail to mark his guard before facing Andre Russell’s first delivery.
Tucker obliged and Pollard duly returned it after marking his batting guard. He went on to win the game for MI with an amazing 51 off just 17 balls.