However a replay revealed that England’s wicketkeeper, Jordan Cox, had dislodged both bails before Archer’s throw hit the stumps. This would often void the run-out, or require the wicketkeeper to pluck a stump out of the ground to make up for the absence of the bails.
The sight of the bails lighting up caused White and his on-field colleague Wayne Knights to send the decision up to Adrian Holdstock, the TV umpire. Soon after, Holdstock overturned White’s decision, with “not out” flashing up on the big screen as the players took drinks.
Further consideration revealed that the decision required overturning for a second time. While Cox had knocked the bails off with a slightly clumsy piece of keeping, Archer’s throw had sufficient force to knock one of the stumps entirely out of the ground, meaning that Rathnayake should have been given out.
The two relevant Marylebone Cricket Club Laws read as follows:
29.2.1.1: “The wicket is broken fairly if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground by the ball.”
29.2.1.6: “The wicket is also broken fairly if a fielder strikes or pulls a stump out of the ground (as in 29.2.1.5).”
The MCC are understood to believe the correct decision was reached, and may even issue a clarification in the coming days.