Legendary all-rounder becomes first West Indies player to be dismissed obstructing the field in international cricket

Deandra Dottin given out obstructing the field

The incident occured in the 30th over of West Indies' chase of 209 at the National Cricket Stadium St George's. Dottin had come in to bat at No.6 with the score reading 89-4 in 24.1 overs. Shemaine Campbelle was dismissed soon after to leave WI 93-5. Dottin then added 23 runs with Jannillea Glasgow for the sixth wicket but perished in controversial fashion.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu bowled a wide down the leg side, which missed Dottin's attempted sweep, hit the wicketkeeper and rebounded towards the pitch. Dottin juggled the rebounding ball with her bat once, and then caught it with her left hand just as the wicketkeeper was stepping forward to gather the ball as well.

The Sri Lankans appealed immediately and Dottin was adjudged out obstructing the field.

It proved to be a costly wicket as Glasgow put up a strong fight with a half-century but West Indies fell short by just 14 runs.

What do the laws say about obstructing the field?

Article 37.1.2 explains that a batter cannot use a hand not holding the bat to deliberately touch the ball.

"The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of clause 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his wicket."

Also read: What do the laws say? Marnus Labuschagne survives in obstructing the field controversy in Australian domestic cricket

Article 37.3.1 talks about batters preventing fielders from taking a catch.

"If the delivery is not a No ball, the striker is out Obstructing the field if wilful obstruction or distraction by either batter prevents the striker being out caught."

Also read: ‘Lucky nobody appealed’ – Could Virat Kohli have been given out obstructing the field v Pakistan?

In this instance, while the delivery called a wide, an argument could be made that had the wicketkeeper caught the ball off the rebound and had replays shown contact with the bat when the ball initially passed Dottin, she would have been out caught. Her act of catching the ball herself could be seen as "wilful obstruction" in that regard.

How many players have been out obstructing the field?

Dottin became the sixth female player to be dismissed in this fashion in international cricket, while 16 male cricketers have been out obstructing the field in the international arena as well.

Dottin, however, is the first West Indies cricketer to be dismissed obstructing the field across men's and women's international cricket.

Note: Desmond Haynes was dismissed handled the ball in a 1983 Test match against India, when it used to be a separate mode of dismissal before being merged under obstructing the field.

Obstructing the field dismissals in women's international cricket

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