New South Wales allrounder Chris Green was involved in a bizarre situation against Western Australia at the WACA where he was given out twice before being recalled to the crease.

The incident took place in the 22nd over of NSW’s second innings, when Green ducked a bouncer from Matthew Kelly and was given out caught behind as the ball deflected through to wicketkeeper Joel Curtis. Green had finished flat on his back in the crease and began remonstrating while sat on the ground as umpire Gerald Abood raised the finger.

There was no doubt about the ball hitting something but as Green got to his feet he continued to shake his head. At this point, Abood was talking with square-leg official Michael Graham-Smith, then he raised his finger again. Green started walking off while signaling to the umpires.

Initial front-on and from behind replays were not conclusive but a side-on shot did suggest it came off the helmet, although the gloves remained close. A fourth view from mid-on appeared to confirm it was just helmet.

Green, at this stage, was still on the playing area and Abood then signaled for him to wait as he approached the Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman. Abood then reversed his decision and Green walked back to the crease. He then underwent a concussion test as is the protocol when a player is struck on the helmet.

Former New South Wales and Australia opener Phil Jaques, working the game as a commentator, was taken aback by how it played out.

“It looks like he’s got it right in the end, but it opens up a very big Pandora’s box,” Jaques said. “You can’t take a batter’s word for it because they’re never out, so it’s a very strange one.

“I’ve seen captains call back batters before when umpires have got it wrong, but I’ve never seen an umpire overturn their decision after giving it out. He’s overturned it after giving it out twice.”

While the Sheffield Shield is streamed in high quality there are no third umpires except for the final and replays are not used in the decision-making process.

Law 2.12 allows an umpire to “alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly and does not contradict clause 20.6 (Dead ball not to be revoked).”

Green only faced a further 11 balls, scoring eight more runs before toe-ending a pull to Cameron Bancroft at second slip.

Debutant Will Salzmann was at the non-striker’s end and was content to let things run their course, but praised Western Australia for the way they accepted the final outcome.

“I didn’t have much idea because I guess I didn’t get a good look from our [the non-striker’s] end, couldn’t tell it was off his helmet, the sound wasn’t clean as you’d expect from metal,” he said. “Being my first game I sort of kept my mouth shut and let things play out in front of me.

“Think the right decision was made in the end. Western Australia should be given a lot of credit, it’s a good display of the spirit of the game. Credit to the officials and well played to Greeny for speaking up on something he didn’t believe in.”

Western Australia offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli was reluctant to bring the spirit of cricket into the incident and said his side could do little except carry on with the game

“I don’t actually know what the spirit of the game is,” he said. “I was stuck at deep square leg on the hook so I just appealed because everyone else appealed and the rest sort of happened from there. I still don’t actually know what happened, all I know he was not out at the end of the day. The umpires umpire and the rest of just have to get on and do our work.

“We’ve just got to play the game. Sometimes in cricket it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. Didn’t go our way in that situation but lucky enough to get him out a couple of overs later so just have to suck it up and move on.”

[Cricinfo]