WATCH: Essex Bowler Gets 2 Wickets On 2 No-Balls Against Lancashire

Cricket Image for WATCH: Essex Bowler Gets 2 Wickets On 2 No-Balls Against Lancashire (Image Source: Twitter)

With cricket progressing so quickly, the pressure on the umpires has increased in the last few years. The ICC has brought in technology to help umpires make decisions but in the domestic season, not every game has the access to high-level cameras and a third umpire. 

During the ongoing county championship, Essex were playing Lancashire. Essex scored 391 runs in the first inning courtesy of Dan Lawrence's century. In reply, Lancashire got bowled out for mere 103 runs. 

Among the 10 dismissals, two were possible no-balls had umpires checked them. In Essex's opening spell, Lancashire got reduced to 4/14 runs. Sam Cook picked two wickets - Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings. 

The right-arm pacer Sam Cook came round the wicket to bowl against the two lefties and in both the deliveries that dismissed the two batters, it looks like he was touching the return crease during the load up of his action. 

According to MCC clause 21.5, "For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride, the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery.”

Know more about how the introduction of front-foot no-ball law made life difficult for fast bowlers

However, in both the dismissals, it seems like Cook's foot was landing on the return crease and should've been called no-ball but the umpire completely missed them, not once but twice. 

14/4. @EssexCricket are wreaking havoc

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— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 20, 2022

It was an interesting phase of play and Lancashire's innings could've been different had either Jennings or Wells batted longer. 

Is this high time that technology and third umpire calling no-balls are also introduced in the domestic tournaments?