Sunday 6 September 2015 14:49, UK
Australia skipper Steve Smith will soon feel guilty over pressing for Ben Stokes to be dismissed, say former England captains Paul Collingwood and Alec Stewart.
Boos rained around Lord's on Saturday during Australia's 64-run win in the second ODI after the all-rounder was given out for obstructing the field by the umpires after handling the ball to avoid Mitchell Starc's shy at the stumps.
Collingwood was embroiled in similar controversial circumstances in 2008 when, as captain, he turned down an opportunity to withdraw an appeal after New Zealand's Grant Elliott was dismissed following a collision with England bowler Ryan Sidebottom.
The Durham skipper apologised immediately after the match to the Kiwi players admitting "it was in the heat of the moment," adding: "I hold my hands up and say I probably made the wrong decision, and that is something that I will have to live with."
The decision to send Stokes back to the pavilion did not go down well with the spectators in London, while Sky Sports cricket pundit Sir Ian Botham said he was baffled by the decision.
On Saturday evening, Collingwood tweeted: "Smith will regret that decision in the future."
Stewart, former England skipper and wicketkeeper, told the BBC: "In the heat of the battle I understand why Steve Smith made that decision.
"I think in hindsight, probably, maybe this morning, he will reflect on it that it was the wrong decision (and) he should have actually retracted that appeal."
Smith took exception to his opposite number Eoin Morgan's suggestion that, in the Australia captain's place, he would have withdrawn the appeal against Stokes.
According to Stewart, Stokes acted out of "self-preservation" - looking to avoid injury above thinking about his wicket.
Stewart added: "We've had other instances in the past, perhaps Paul Collingwood against New Zealand when he played the run out to run out Grant Elliott at The Oval."
The Laws of Cricket stipulate that a batsman must be judged to "wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side" to be given out in the manner that Stokes saw his innings end.
Stewart said: "At the time I'm just thinking, 'Ben Stokes is taking evasive action - no way is that out'.
"I'd have to question the third umpire: what on Earth was he thinking? Why didn't he watch the replays in full speed as against just in slow motion? I think when you slow everything down it gives almost a false picture.
"It was just bad. When the ball is thrown at you at 80 miles per hour from eight or so metres away you're going to take evasive action, you're going to put your hand up whether you've got a helmet on or not to protect yourself.
"And even though the pictures are showing his hand was outside the line of his head, to me that is still taking evasive action and therefore it should not have been out.
"You can see from Ben Stokes' reaction he wasn't even looking at the ball."
Watch the third ODI between England and Australia live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Tuesday.
