A furious Adelaide Strikers star Adam Hose has slammed the officials for not timing out Stars matchwinner Marcus Stoinis after his epic knock ensured the Melbourne side cruised home for an eight-run win on the eve of New Year.
English batter Hose, who had a strong start to his first BBL tournament, said Stoinis failed to face his first delivery within the 75-second time limit, and as such should be penalised.
Stoinis smashed 74 off 35 deliveries at the Adelaide Oval following criticism throughout the game for missing the Stars crucial match against the Sixers on Boxing Day despite his and his side’s poor form.
A dejected Adam Hose left the field after the Strikers went down by eight runs to the Stars in front of a healthy crowd at the Adelaide Oval
But according to Hose, Stoinis could be sent packing first ball if the umpires upheld the Strikers’ appeal.
BBL rules state that upon the fall of a wicket, the incoming batter must be ready to face within 75 seconds.
If the batter does not arrive in time, they must stand on the edge of the pitch for the first delivery of their innings and allow the bowler – in this case Wes Agar – a free ball on the stumps.
If the ball hits the wicket, the batsman is bowled.
Hose said after the match that he had no doubt that fate should apply to Stoinis.
‘Honestly, I was at cover for his first ball and I’m sure he timed out – 75 seconds, he wasn’t ready,’ he said.
‘Hopefully if this is the rule we can do it. That’s my only experience with the clock running out.
‘We asked, we appealed, but nothing happened. I’m sure his time is up,’ said Hose.
Adam Hose scored an unbeaten 56 off 41 balls against the Stars but it was not enough for his side to win
It’s an obscure rule that’s rarely enforced, but one that the 30-year-old Englishman knows.
Just 11 days earlier against the Thunder, Hose, the incoming batter, was still scowling at his guard preparing for his first ball when batting partner Matt Short shouted ‘Hosie, come on’ as almost the 75-second countdown expires.
Hose admitted that he was disappointed that there seemed to be double standards at play.
‘The umpires have been very hot on me in the last two games to the crease,’ he said.
‘I’ve been warned about this several times and I need to change my first-ball routine. I guess that’s why my frustration came in, they were very angry with me.
‘I just hope, going forward with the rest of the tournament, if it’s going to be a rule, it should be enforced,’ said Hose.
Marcus Stoinis smashed a cover drive with his scintillating half-century against the Strikers
Stoinis was aware of the clock ticking but rejected Hose’s claim, insisting that Adelaide’s field was not timed and thus he should not have been timed out.
‘I checked the middle, then I was standing because I could see the field moving,’ he said.
‘I really don’t know that I have to stand there anyway,’ he said of the rule.
Stoinis criticized the Strikers for trying the same thing to teammate Hilton Cartwright in the 14th over, and suggested it was not something they should try again.
‘The same thing happened with Hilts,’ he said.
Marcus Stoinis was named Player of the Match for his stunning 74 off 35 deliveries against the Strikers at the Adelaide Oval on NYE
That’s what they (Strikers) appealed to but the field was moving so it ended up being a dead ball.
‘I will not appeal (for that). The rule is in place if someone tries to take advantage and slow down the game,’ a frustrated Stoinis said of the Strikers.
The Stars will look to continue their return to form and move up the bottom end of the ladder when they take on arch-rivals Renegades in a Melbourne derby at the MCG on January 3.
Adelaide are straight back into action tomorrow when they take on the Hurricanes in Hobart.
