Gautam Gambhir Supports Mark Waugh's Idea Of ''No Runs For Leg-Bye''

Recently, in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2019-20 edition, former Australia batsman Mark Waugh opined that leg-byes should be done away with altogether. He believed that runs coming off leg-byes shouldn’t be added as it gives an unfair advantage to the batting side. The idea gets backing from the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir.

Mark Waugh’s comments came when a Sydney Thunder batsman Alex Ross ran for a couple after the ball, shaping down the leg side, struck his pads and went away from the fielders nearby. A few balls later, a similar thing happened with the same batsman again, when the ball ran for a boundary after deflecting off his pads.

After a long time, a good suggestion – Gautam Gambhir

Speaking of the same, Gautam Gambhir, in his piece for Times of India, stated that Mark Waugh made an excellent suggestion to scrap the runs for leg-byes. He added that Waugh was right when he said batting was all about scoring runs with the bat, not with the pads.

“I liked what Mark Waugh had to say about leg byes, that they should be done away with. The former Australian cricketer is right when he says that batting is about playing the ball and not missing it. After a long time, a good suggestion,” Gautam Gambhir wrote.

Well, it would be interesting to see whether the International Cricket Council will look after the suggestion or not. The idea might be considered first in any of the franchise-league tournaments or domestic games before ICC considers the idea to scrap leg-bye completely.

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Gautam Gambhir retired from the gentlemen’s game in 2018 after representing India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is. He was a vital cog in India’s title run in the inaugural World Twenty20 (WT20I) in 2007 as well as the 2011 World Cup victory at home. After calling curtains on his career, Gambhir contested in elections and won there as well.