Greats appalled - spirit of cricket dismissed again as Windies juniors cause World Cup furore

South African opener Jiveshan Pillay picked up a stationary ball near the stumps to hand it to a fielder. Photo / Getty

The West Indies under-19 team are copping it from all sides after using a technicality to dismiss a South African batsman at the World Cup game in Mt Maunganui.

Former Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who had a 15-year test career, described the Windies junior team as "disgusting". Former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar reckoned: "I can't believe what I am seeing."

MUST WATCH 👀

One of the most bizarre dismissals you will ever see as Pillay is given out for obstruction.

▶️ https://t.co/zoapdDHrkj#U19CWC #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/X6f7XIuQ4S

— ICC (@ICC) January 17, 2018

Cricket greats Faf Du Plessis and Mitchell Johnson had a Twitter duel over the issue. South African Du Plessis described the dismissal as an "absolute joke" while Aussie quick Johnson said the law was the law.

ESPN's acclaimed CricInfo website stated that the "West Indies have once again ignited the spirit-of-cricket debate at the under-19 World Cup" after their captain/wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart appealed when South African opener Jiveshan Pillay picked up a stationary ball near the stumps to hand it to a fielder.

This is a absolute joke...not in the spirit of the game .I have done this almost a 100 times. https://t.co/nX0KUJ9PI4

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) January 17, 2018

What's going on with @westindies eh @irbishi ??? Two tournaments in a row! #terrible #U19CWC

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) January 17, 2018

Pillay touched the still ball with his bat, then threw it to Stewart who talked to the on-field umpires. Pillay was given out for obstructing the field.

The third umpire had ruled in the West Indies' favour in accordance with the law which states: "Either batsman is out obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder."

In 2016, the Windies under-19s were at the centre of controversy for using the mankad — when the bowler holds back a delivery to run out the non-striker — to win a quarter-final game against Zimbabwe. The mankad rule has since been simplified and thus further confirmed as a legitimate dismissal of non-strikers who try to leave their station early.

Disgusting! Once again WI junior team involved in a matter that goes against the spirit of the game. Law or not, I’ve seen @ABdeVilliers17, @stevesmith49 and @imVkohli pass ball back to fielder. Follow their example youngsters! Play hard but play fair within spirit of game! https://t.co/wePF1N3rKS

— Mark Boucher (@markb46) January 17, 2018

Can't believe what I am seeing @ICC #U19WorldCup. WI appealed for handling the ball. The ball had stopped rolling & the player picked it up.

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) January 17, 2018

Leading West Indies commentator Ian Bishop, the former fast bowler, defended the juniors on that occasion, but he had far less sympathy this time.

"This is an unfortunate issue," Bishop told Fox Sports.

"The batsman isn't trying to gain an advantage. He is not trying to being unfair. The umpires have done what they need to do. The ball has stopped. It's not threatening the stumps. I don't really necessarily feel as if that's a good law. It could take a re-look.

"I would have to have a deeper look at myself if I was the fielding captain. Can I use some discretion here for the sake of the game and whatever the spirit of the game means? I wouldn't have gone that way."

MUST WATCH 👀

One of the most bizarre dismissals you will ever see as Pillay is given out for obstruction.

▶️ https://t.co/zoapdDHrkj#U19CWC #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/X6f7XIuQ4S

— ICC (@ICC) January 17, 2018