During the 16th match of the ongoing Sheffield Shield season against South Australia in Adelaide, Victoria faced a challenging start after being put into bat. With just 21 runs on the board, they lost three wickets, setting a precarious tone for their innings.
The responsibility to steer his team out of this early turmoil fell upon the shoulders of seasoned campaigner Peter Handscomb. Unfortunately, his departure from the crease, though brief, sparked considerable intrigue across the internet.
In the 11th over, Handscomb found himself edging Brendan Doggett’s well-pitched delivery, which angled into him. The ball traveled low towards Jake Lehmann, stationed at third slip.
Displaying impressive reflexes, the South Australian captain snatched the catch cleanly before the ball made contact with the ground. While the umpire had no qualms about the catch being legitimate, Handscomb, to everyone’s surprise, remained steadfast at the striker’s end.
Peter Handscomb refused to leave after edging to the slips until being sent on his way by the umpires 😲 #SheffieldShield#PlayOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/7hs8u47tX7
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 28, 2023
Despite the apparent fairness of the catch, the Australian batsman expressed dismay at the umpire’s decision, engaging in a prolonged discussion with the official. Ultimately, the umpire signaled for Handscomb to leave the field, leaving the batter visibly disheartened as he made his way back.