ICC praises decision which upholds the Great Spirit of cricket

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, today praised Team India, the England team and the match officials at Trent Bridge, Nottingham for the way they upheld the Great Spirit of the Great Sport of cricket.

At the end of the afternoon session England batsman Ian Bell was given run out after leaving his crease in the belief that tea had been called by on-field umpires Asad Rauf and Marais Erasmus. On appeal, after consultation with television umpire Billy Bowden, Bell was given run out, which was the technically correct decision under the letter of the law of the game.

Haroon Lorgat said: ‘Absolute credit must go to Team India, the England team and the match officials – Ranjan Madugalle, Asad Rauf and Marais Erasmus as well as the off-field umpires Billy Bowden and Tim Robinson – for the superb way that they all handled a tricky situation.

‘While the initial appeal and umpire decision may have been acceptable to the letter of the law, the decision by India captain M S Dhoni and his team -as well as the Team India coaching staff – to withdraw the appeal shows great maturity. To see players and officials uphold the Great Spirit of cricket, which has underpinned the game for more than a century, is very special.

“I am indeed grateful for the way that the teams and match officials handled what was clearly a difficult situation and their behaviour reflects well on everyone.’