Cricket fans and commentators are once again calling for a change to the controversial catch rule, after the Perth Scorchers were momentarily dudded in the BBL final against the Sydney Sixers. The Scorchers won their sixth BBL title on Sunday night, crushing the travel-weary Sixers by six wickets.
The Scorchers won comfortably, but the decider wasn’t without controversy. Perth thought they’d dismissed Joel Davies on 13 when Cooper Connolly took a difficult running catch in the outfield.
Joel Davies (L) was recalled after leaving the field as controversy erupted in the Perth Scorchers’ BBL triumph (R). Image: Fox Cricket/Getty
But replays showed that Connolly had ‘grounded’ the ball after diving and catching it, which is against the black-and-white letter of the law. The ball isn’t allowed to make contact with the ground until a fielder is in full control of his movements, even if it’s safely in their hand.
Connolly effectively placed the ball down onto the turf as he was sliding towards the boundary, reminiscent of a Mitchell Starc catch that was overturned in the 2023 Ashes series. The third umpire eventually ruled Davies not out, and there were farcical scenes as the Sixers batter had left the field of play and was almost into the dug-out when he was recalled.
Thankfully for the Scorchers it only cost them six runs, with Davies dismissed for 19 not long after. The controversy didn’t affect the outcome, but fans and commentators are demanding change nonetheless.
The Scorchers were also on the wrong end of a controversial call involving skipper Ashton Turner earlier this season, in which he too was deemed to have grounded the ball. Speaking on Fox Cricket on Sunday night, Aussie legend Mike Hussey said the rule needs changing to allow fielders to ground the ball as long as they have complete control.
“To the letter of the law it is not out. The ball did touch the ground before he controlled the catch. but I don’t like the law,” Hussey said. “I think the law needs to be changed. In my view he is controlling the ball. He’s controlled the catch. He’s controlled the ball. It should be out. But the way the law is written at the moment, the correct decision was made.”
Cooper Connolly ‘grounded’ the ball, but many believe the rule needs to be changed. Image: Fox Cricket
Cricket fans left fuming over BBL catch controversy
On social media, commentator and analyst Paul Dennett said: “Absolutely they got the right decision according to the current law. But as a cricket fan, this is not what it’s meant to be about.
“This was a fantastic outfield catch from Cooper Connolly. Yes he should have known the law himself better, but I don’t see what the attraction is to making players turn their hands upside down in order to avoid grounding the ball miles after they’ve taken the catch. It is time for a re-wording (of the law).”
On social media, fans were ropeable and the overwhelming majority called for the rule to be changed. Unfortunately, the ICC recently said the Turner incident was the perfect example of why the law won’t be changed.