That brilliant first Ashes Test between England and Australia produced so many storylines, featured so many subplots.But among the more controversial talking points was Stuart Broad’s decision in the second innings to not ‘walk.’The umpire missed the huge edge that took the ball into the hands of first slip, via the wicketkeeper.The replays did not.The Australian’s were incensed. Broad was unmoved.
Ricky Ponting, Former Australia captain (asked if he would have walked if in Stuart Broad’s position):“No way. And he wouldn’t have copped anything from any of the Aussies about not walking. I think what the Aussie boys were most disappointed about was just how bad a decision it was. I think this whole issue has been sort of been put back on to Broad for not walking when it had nothing to do with that. I think the whole issue was just about how bad the decision was and how they can, decisions like that can still be in our game. I’ve said all along, there’s less than five per cent of cricketers I’ve played with or against that have walked, so…. no grudges there against Stuart for doing what he did.”
Andrew Strauss, Former England captain:“I really don’t blame Stuart Broad at all, but it was that obvious a nick that it should have been all quite inconsequential ’cause he should have been given out.”
Shane Warne, Former Australia bowler (asked if he would have walked):“Well I think hats off to Stuart Broad for not walking. If you nick one to first slip and don’t walk I say well played. Look, the umpire…. if…. umpire gives you not out and you walk, that’s dissent. You’re going against the umpire’s decision, so the umpire’s actually there to make the decision. You stand there if you want to stand there. I think it shows a lot of…. it’s just, natural reaction is when you nick one to slip you go ‘oh!’ and you’re off. So for him to stand there I thought was fantastic. I actually loved it.”
Sir Ian Botham, Former England captain:“I don’t, what incident? He nicked the ball, he got away with it. It’s happened for centuries in Ashes cricket. Who cares? Get a life. You know, all these people standing up on the pulpit giving it the holier than holy. Obviously never played Test cricket at that level.”
Merv Hughes, Former Australia bowler (asked if he would have walked):“No. No. We have a very simple saying in Australia, you do not walk unless you run out of petrol.”
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