Australia captain Pat Cummins opened up on handling the ball controversy on Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2025 against South Africa at Lord’s, London. In the 49th over of South Africa’s innings bowled by Beau Webster, David Bedingham got an inside edge and the ball stuck in his pads.
The South Africa batter quickly used his hands to put the ball on the ground seconds before wicketkeeper Alex Carey came in front of the stumps to collect it. A few Australian players objected to Bedingham using his hands, despite the ball still being in motion, leading to a discussion between the on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth.
After a brief discussion on-field umpires ruled the ball ‘dead’ and the play continued. Pat Cummins was asked about the incident in the press conference at the end of the day’s play. The Australian fast bowler revealed that umpires had said that it was a dead ball but they would’ve anyways withdrawn the appeal.
“Yeah, well the umpires said it was dead ball first of all, but yeah I think we probably would have withdrawn, yeah,” said Cummins in the press conference.
According to MCC Laws a ball becomes dead when it gets trapped into a batter’s equipment.
“The ball becomes dead when, whether played or not it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of his/her clothing or equipment. 20.1.1.5 whether played or not it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batter or the clothing of an umpire,” the law states.
Bedingham also shared his thoughts on the incident, saying that he used his hands out of panick as Carey was standing up.
“Yeah, I think I panicked big time. Because Carey was standing up, he was quite close. The umpires said, regardless, it was dead ball. But I think the way I picked up the ball and dropped it came across a bit dodgy,” said Bedingham in the press conference.
Bedingham was dismissed for 45 (111) by Pat Cummins as South Africa got bundled out for 138, handing a 74-run lead to Australia in the first innings. However, South Africa fought back well with the ball in the second innings as they left Australia reeling at 144/8, leading by 218 runs at the end of the day’s play. Lungi Ngidi (3/35) and Kagiso Rabada (3/44) were the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas.