India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was warned for running on the pitch during the Edgbaston Test. Here's why the umpires and the opposition were concerned.
India had made it to 310-5 in 85 overs by the end of day one of the second Test, with Shubman Gill (114*) and Ravindra Jadeja (41*) unbeaten at stumps.
In the second over of day two (Thursday), Jadeja found himself in a spot of bother. Having just defended a delivery from Chris Woakes, he took off for a single before realising the run was not on, and returned to his ground.
Before the next ball came into play, umpire Sharfaddoula walked down the wicket to have a word with Jadeja, warning him for running down the centre of the wicket.
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Why were the umpires concerned about Jadeja running on the pitch?
In short, for running on the protected area of the pitch, defined by the ICC as “that area of the pitch contained within a rectangle bounded at each end by imaginary lines parallel to the popping creases and 5 ft/1.52 m in front of each, and on the sides by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1 ft/30.48 cm from it.”
If the umpires note “deliberate or avoidable damage” to the protected area by the batter, they will be warned the first time, and hit with a five-run penalty for a second offence.
Why were England concerned about Jadeja running on the pitch?
First and foremost, the five-run penalty. But beyond that, any potential damage done to the wicket by Jadeja would break the surface up slightly more; in this game, perhaps providing India with a slight advantage by giving their two spinners (Jadeja being one of them) a little extra bit of help from a stump line.
Jadeja has been pulled up for running on the protected area before – at Indore in 2016-17. His two offences on that occasion cost India five runs, and he was also fined 50 per cent of his match fees and handed three demerit points.
In this match, Jadeja was eventually dismissed for 89, before captain Gill's fine double century helped India inch closer to 600 by the evening session.
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