ENG vs NZ: Henry Nicholls gets dismissed in bizarre manner, MCC clarifies the law

On the opening day of the third Test match between England and New Zealand in Leeds, New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls got dismissed in one of the most bizarre manners that left even the bowler Jack Leach stunned. Nicholls smashed one straight towards his batting partner Daryl Mitchell, who failed to get out of the way in time. As a result, Mitchell deflected the ball straight into Alex Lees’ hands at mid-off.

Mitchell, at the non-striker’s end, got his body out of the firing line but could not get his bat out of the way as the ball  hit it and got deflected to set up a sitter of a catch for Lees. Spinner Leach seemed to have no idea about the dismissal but was swarmed by his teammates as they celebrated the dismissal. Nicholls had to depart for 19 in the 56th over as New Zealand lost their fifth wicket for 123 runs.

“How has it got there?!” exclaimed Nasser Hussain in the commentary box. “Mitchell’s at the non-striker’s end, he’s trying to get his bat out of the way, the umpire’s trying to get out of the way… and Mitchell’s middled it straight to mid-off. I cannot believe that, I really can’t.”

Unfortunate dismissal? Yes. But wholly within the Laws: MCC

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Twitter stated what the law says with regards to the incident. “An unfortunate dismissal? Yes. But wholly within the Laws,” tweeted the MCC from its official Twitter handle. “Law 33.2.2.3 states it will be out if a fielder catches the ball after it has touched the wicket, an umpire, another fielder, a runner or the other batter.

An unfortunate dismissal? Yes. But wholly within the Laws.

Law 33.2.2.3 states it will be out if a fielder catches the ball after it has touched the wicket, an umpire, another fielder, a runner or the other batter.

Read the Law: https://t.co/cCBoJd6xOSpic.twitter.com/eKiAWrbZiI

— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) June 23, 2022

Meanwhile, earlier New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first and things look dim for the visitors early as they lost openerm Tom Latham in the very first over, by Stuart Broad. His opening partner Will Young scored 20 before falling for lbw to Leach in the 13th over. Skipper Kane Williamson, after recovering from Covid-19,  got back in the team but scored only 31 in the first innings before falling for to Broad in the 23rd over.

Devon Conway added 26 to the board, arriving at No. 4, and was knocked over by pacer Jamie Overton in the 35th over. Daryl Mitchell brought up yet another fifty in the series, with wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell joining him for a rescue mission.