At Lord's during the WTC Final 2025, a peculiar incident unfolded on Day 2 that caught the attention of everyone present. This moment was unlike typical cricketing drama, involving neither a fierce delivery nor a batting collapse, but rather a highly unusual occurrence.
David Bedingham on 'dead ball' drama during WTC final
South African batter David Bedingham was at the center of this bizarre situation when a dead-ball drama marred the match, which momentarily threatened to escalate into a controversy reminiscent of the Ashes. Thankfully, the incident did not develop further, and the manner in which both captains addressed it was commendable.
The sequence began when Beau Webster bowled a delivery that Bedingham attempted to paddle away. Instead of making contact with the bat's sweet spot, the ball awkwardly deflected off his pad and began to roll down his leg side. Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, anticipating a potential catch, quickly moved towards the ball. In the heat of the moment, Bedingham instinctively picked the ball up and placed it back on the ground.
This incident sparked considerable discussion and became the major talking point of Day 2 of the WTC Final. According to the laws of cricket, a ball is considered dead under specific circumstances, including when it becomes lodged between the batter's bat and person or clothing, or within the clothing or equipment of a batter or an umpire.
Speaking after the day's play concluded, David Bedingham admitted that he "panicked big time" during the confusion of the handled-ball situation. He also shared that an Australian player reassured him and told him not to worry excessively about the incident. David Bedingham further explained:
"Yeah, I think I panicked big time. Because Carey was standing up, he was quite close. The umpires said, regardless, it was a dead ball. But I think the way I picked up the ball and dropped it came across a bit dodgy. I'm just glad they withdrew the appeal because there [would be] more controversy and that type of stuff. I'm glad nothing happened out of it, really. The slip cordon just told me, 'don't panic, just leave it…' but in the moment, I think I panicked big-time," Bedingham said after the end of Day 2's play.
Talking about the match, By the end of Day 2, Australia were left reeling at 144/8, maintaining a lead of 218 runs while replying to South Africa's 138 after posting a first innings total of 212.