The ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC 2025) final between Australia and South Africa has been very interesting. Australia wants to retain their championship and become the first team to do so since the competition began, while South Africa is putting up a fierce push to become the new global champions.
On Day 1, South Africa's potent bowling startled Australia. Kagiso Rabada took five wickets to help his team bowl out the Australians for just 212 runs. But the Australian bowlers retaliated, dismissing South Africa for just 138 runs. The Proteas were dealt the blow by Pat Cummins, who took six wickets.
During a brief partnership in South Africa's innings on Day 2, there was a dispute. After pitching, Beau Webster delivered a ball that moved in, giving David Bedingham an inside edge in the final over before lunch. He picked up the ball with his hand after it became lodged in his pad and let it fall to the ground.
The ball was shown on camera rolling onto Bedingham's pad flap after momentarily becoming stuck between his thighs. Bedingham made an impulsive, eyebrow-raising action when he seized the ball and threw it down as Carey moved in.
Aware of the delicate nature of the call, Carey and the rest of the team exchanged wry smiles as Usman Khawaja and other Australian players requested a review. Bedingham was permitted to continue his batting after umpire Illingworth signaled a dead ball following a dispute.
Here is the video:
Here is why David Bedingham was given not out?
The MCC regulations state that a batter can only be dismissed for "handling the ball" if they intentionally make contact with the ball using their hands.
It is not regarded as out, though, if the ball becomes lodged in the batter's pad, as it occurred with Bedingham, and the batter just picks it up and drops it without attempting to do anything further. In that case, it becomes a dead ball.
Law 20.1.1.4 states: “The ball becomes dead when, whether played or not, it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of their clothing or equipment.”
