Joe Root and his Yorkshire teammates put on a show of sportsmanship by refusing to run out injured Lancashire batsman Steven Croft.
When Luke Wells pushed the ball towards mid-off and scampered for a quick single in the 18th over of Lancashire’s run chase, the event occurred.
Croft, a non-striker, was hurt in the left leg midway through the game and yelled out in pain as he dropped to the ground.
Lancashire needed 17 runs from 18 balls with five wickets in hand at this critical stage of the game.
Yorkshire needed quick wickets to get back into the game at that point.
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Former England cricketers Mark Butcher and Rob Key split on Joe Root’s decision in the commentary box. While Key supported Joe Root, comparing it to when players in football kick the ball out of play when a player is injured, Butcher found “whole thing completely bizzare”
As physio came to the ground to assist Croft, the on-field umpire signaled dead ball.
Meanwhile, the Lancashire batsman complimented the opposition, stating, “They could have taken the bails off and credit to them that they didn’t.”
On the other hand, the England Test skipper said it was a ‘very difficult decision under pressure; The 30-year-old was more concerned about Croft’s injury than running him out. “(Croft’s injury) looked very serious at first glance. In many ways it was a relief it was nothing serious. I am sure there will be many different opinions. Many people would have handled it differently.”
Croft went undefeated for 26 runs as his team chased down the modest goal of 129 with six balls to spare.
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