Xtra Time Web Desk: Former England batsman Ian Bell admitted it was his mistake during ‘Spirit of Cricket’ incident involving Dhoni during the Trentbridge test match. Former India captain MS Dhoni was awarded the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the decade for his gesture to call back the England batsman after he was technically given run out by the on field umpires.
The incident happened just at the stroke of Tea during the third day of Trentbridge test match. Bell thought that the ball hit by Eoin Morgan reached the boundary ropes and started walking back to the pavilion. But both he and Morgan did not realize the ball was saved from hitting the ropes by Praveen Kumar who threw the ball to Dhoni. Dhoni relayed the ball to Abhinav Mukund, who dislodged the bails at the non-strikers end.
Bell was technically adjudged run out by the on field umpires after the Indians appealed. The incidence prompted immense booing and various expressions of displeasure from the English crowd. Much to the delight of the home fans, Bell was seen walking back to bat after the Tea break. It was later learned that Dhoni withdrew his appeal after discussions between the two sides.
In a Live chat on You Tube channel The Grade Cricketer , Bell accepted it was his mistake to walk towards the pavilion without confirming the umpires.
“Yes, it’s interesting. When I look back to that, I mean, I must have been hungry or something because I literally just belted for the pavilion when I thought it was four if it was either way around, I would have been safe and we would have been fine. But yeah, they obviously got Dhoni a ‘Spirit of the Game’ award for the decade or something like that. But yeah [it was] a mistake on my behalf, should never do that,” Ian Bell told The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel,” said Bell.
Bell went on to score 156 runs and India lost the Test by 319 runs. Eventually, the visitors were white-washed 4-0 in the series.