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"Dodgy" ball handling drama hits WTC Final
SEN • June 13th, 2025 9:08 am
- Australia lead by 218 runs
- South Africa were all out for 138
- Cummins claimed six wickets
- 28 wickets fell across two days
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was involved in something of a controversial moment at Lord’s just before lunch on day two after South Africa’s David Bedingham edged the ball on to his pad before removing it by hand.
By Bedingham’s own admission it looked “dodgy” after the ball fell into his pad off Beau Webster’s bowling, but he ultimately avoided a dismissal.
Usman Khawaja was heard shouting, “How’s that? He’s used his hand”, as all eyes fell on the umpires who came together to discuss the moment briefly before judging it a dead ball.
“I panicked big time,” Bedingham said. “I think Carey was standing up, so he was quite close.
“The umpires said regardless it was dead ball but the way I dropped the ball, picked up the ball came across a bit dodgy.
“I am glad they withdrew their appeal because there’s more controversy in that kind of stuff, I am glad nothing happened after it really.
“I just think the slip cordon told me, ‘Don’t panic, leave it’, but in the moment I panicked big time.”
The moment, which came shortly before lunch, became quite the talking point among the commentators given Jonny Bairstow’s infamous stumping against Australia at the same venue two years ago.
England bowler Stuart Broad, who featured in the 2023 Bairstow saga Test at Lord’s, said: “I wonder if Alex Carey just said, ‘I’m not getting involved’. The ball never stopped, always moving. And Carey was pouncing.”
“What’s happening here?” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said in commentary. “Controversy at Lord’s? No way. That will be talked about.”
At stumps Pat Cummins explained: “The umpires said it was dead ball first of all, but yeah I think we would have withdrawn, yeah.
