‘Keep your eyes on the bowler like Kohli, Williamson’ - Ian Bishop opens up on Deepti Sharma-Charlotte Dean run-out episode

Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop gave his verdict on the ongoing run out row from the third ODI between India Women and England Women, at Lord’s recently. With the game getting too intense, England's Charlotte Dean showed a lot of character to almost win the game for her side single-handedly, however, Deepti Sharma ran her out at the non-striker’s end for backing up too far.

The third umpire reviewed the incident and Dean was adjudged run-out, which led to mixed reactions from the cricketing fraternity. The laws of the game do allow bowlers to effect a run-out at the non striker’s end if any batter backs up, although the spirit of the game was questioned at this instance. On that matter, Bishop wanted the youngsters to learn from two modern-day giants of the game on running between wickets.  

Running between the wickets is a skill: Ian Bishop 

Bishop said that the batters should focus on the bowler until he/she releases the ball and noted the examples of Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, who are two of the best in terms of running between wickets. The 54-year-old felt that the youngsters need to learn the skills of running between wickets and added that the unfair advantage that batters tend to take is just an excuse. 

"Plain and simple. Keep your eyes on the bowler and ball all the way through to ball release like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson and these arguments go away. Let’s teach our young kids to back up like these two great players," Bishop tweeted.

"Running between the wickets is a skill. Batters are trying to anticipate bowler ball release to get a quick start like in a sprint race or they are careless or they are trying to gain an unfair advantage, or just plain lazy. Either way it’s no excuse," he added.