Sri Lanka had a shortage of players and they went too far to leave the field at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Delhi. Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal constantly chatted with the on-field Umpires trying to stop the day’s play after his fast bowlers, especially Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage struggled to stay on their feet. At one point, one of the bowlers was spotted throwing up as well. Lakmal, Gamage left the field and it led to shortage of substitute players in the Sri Lankan camp. As a result, Sri Lanka’s trainer, Nick Lee almost took the field and according to the cricket laws it would have been the right thing to do.
Here’s the clause 1.2.3 of the ICC Test Playing Conditions that would have been justified Lee fielding in the second Test:
All those nominated including those nominated as substitute fielders, must be eligible to play for that particular team and by such nomination the nominees shall warrant that they are so eligible.
Here’s the video of all that went down in the third Test at Feroz Shah Kotla –
Smog? Pollution? What’s happening? https://t.co/2uLbFr7j9G #BCCI
— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) December 3, 2017
Lee was seen on the boundary wearing Sri Lanka’s Test jersey ready to make his entrance but it did not come to that. After numerous halts, Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided to declare the first innings with an animated gesture.
Only a few know that Lee has had a First-Class career before getting appointed as the trainer of the Sri Lankan team in September 2016. Nicholas Trevor Lee has played 13 First-Class matches scoring 790 runs from 20 innings. Lee scored three half-centuries in his career and picked up a wicket too. He used to be a part of Sussex 2nd XI side as well.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli declares in anger as Sri Lankan players find excuses to stop play — WATCH
The Englishman could have made his international debut at the age of 34 years but it could not happen because of the declaration and Chandimal’s constant complaints.
