T20 World Cup: Why was Phoebe Litchfield not given out LBW vs India? Explained

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Phoebe Litchfield wasn't given LBW by the third umpire despite her trying to play a switch hit and changing her stance in the match against India.

In Short

• Phoebe Litchfield survived an LBW call in the Australian innings
• Litchfield scored 15 runs off nine balls in Sharjah
• Australia made 151 for the loss of eight wickets

Phoebe Litchfield survived a Leg Before Wicket (LBW) call in Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash against India on Sunday, October 13 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. In the second ball of the 17th over of the Australian innings, Deepti Sharma bowled one from over the wicket after Litchfield went for a switch hit. The on-field umpire, Sue Redfern, gave her LBW.

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But after consultation with Ellyse Perry, the non-striker, Litchfield decided to take the DRS. Replays showed that the ball pitched outside the leg stump of the left-hander and the on-field call was reversed. But Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma were not happy with the call, asking for the call to be reviewed again.

India reckoned that since Litchfield had switched hands, she should be considered a right-handed batter and not a left-hander. In the end, the third-umpire’s decision stood and Litchfield carried on. Interestingly, Litchfield was making her way back to the pavilion before she came back.

Here’s what the MCC law states on the LBW call

36.1 Out LBW

36.3 Off side of wicket

The off side of the striker’s wicket shall be determined by the striker’s batting position at the moment the ball comes into play for that delivery.

Phoebe Litchfield plays handy cameo

Litchfield went on to score 15 runs off nine balls as Australia scored 151 for the loss of eight wickets. Grace Harris was their standout batter after she scored 40 runs before Deepti Sharma accounted for her wicket.

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Litchfield smashed Shreyanka Patil for a six over the mid-wicket boundary and took Australia’s score past the 150-run mark. Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry scored 32 runs apiece. Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets apiece.

Litchfield started her campaign with an unbeaten nine-run knock against Sri Lanka after which she made 18 runs against New Zealand. She did not get a chance to bat against Pakistan, but played a handy cameo against India.