‘Chalo Kuch naya to hua’ – Fans react as India handed five-run penalty for ‘Unfair Play’; England to start innings with 5/0 in 3rd Test

England will begin their first innings in the third Test match against India at 5 for 0 after the hosts received a penalty of five runs on Friday after two instances of running on the “protected area” of the pitch were noticed by on-field umpires. Notably, the on-field umpire Joel Wilson confirmed five penalty runs as India’s all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and debutant wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel batted together in the opening session of Day 2.

Notably, India all-rounder Ashwin hit a ball from Rehan Ahmed to the off-side and set himself up for a single during the incident, which happened in the 102nd over of the Indian innings. However, after leaving the protective area of the pitch, Ashwin took two or three steps there.

Meanwhile, umpire Joel Wilson saw Ravichandran Ashwin’s behaviour at the bowler’s end, though, and marked five penalty runs right away.

WHAT DO CRICKET RULES SAY?

Running on the protected area of the pitch amounts to ‘unfair play’ and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws state the following.

41.14.1: It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause.

41.14.2: If either batter causes deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch at the first instance the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall then warn both batters that the practice is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batter, inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.

Check out how fans have reacted to this news:

😂😂😂 chalo Kuch naya to hua

— Ali Nawaz (@Alimnawaz4) February 16, 2024

Bhari nuksan ho gaya 🤣

— Sankott 👑🚩 (@Iamsankot) February 16, 2024

Ahh sigh of relief for England!

— Aqdas Rehman (@AqdasRehman) February 16, 2024

Oh ye to bhari mistake ho gaya

— Ankit Verma (@TechyWicket) February 16, 2024

Ashwin anna
Kyu beech mai bhag rahe ho bhai

— Secular Chad (@SachabhartiyaRW) February 16, 2024

Yesterday Jadeja and today Ashwin Ran in Danger area

— Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) February 16, 2024

Shame on Jay Shah, for running on the pitch during Match🤚🤚

— Maze (@Maze_6999) February 16, 2024

Well paid pengland 👍

— 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐀𝐉 𝕏 (@pattyboy30) February 16, 2024