[Watch] Perth Scorchers batter hits the ball onto the roof but for no run in BBL 2024-25
Perth Scorchers' Cooper Connolly smashed the ball onto the roof of the Marvel Stadium during the 2024-25 Big Bash League (BBL) clash against the Melbourne Renegades on Monday, December 23. The left-hander hit the venue's roof straight over the pitch off Kane Richardson's bowling, but the delivery was adjudged as a dead ball by the umpire, according to the revised rules.
During the 10th over of the innings, when the Scorchers were looking to get a move on after a horrid start, Connolly's miscued slog went straight up in the air. The ball descended after making contact with the roof, leading to the bowler attempting a one-handed catch.
According to the rules, if a fielder claims a catch with one hand after the ball hits the roof, the batter will be adjudged out.
However, Richardson not only failed to hold onto the skier with just one hand, he managed to injure himself in the process. The right-arm pacer had to be assessed by the physios, while the umpires called a dead ball, leaving the earlier delivery null and void.
Earlier, the batting team was awarded with six runs when the ball struck the roof. But now, it is up to the umpires to adjudge the fate of the delivery, based on where it struck.
Have a look at the incident right here:
The Marvel Stadium's roof has been an infamous structure, earning plaudits and criticism over the years. However, the venue's atrocious outfield has been the bigger concern in the ongoing match. In the early stages of the innings, opening batter Keaton Jennings was run out after his bat was stuck on the turf while he was trying to make it into the crease.
The automatic six rule for contact with roof was scrapped by BBL in 2023
The ominous roof has worked against both the batting side and the fielding side across numerous instances in the BBL. At times, deliveries meant to be sureshot sixes landed on the outfield inside the boundary ropes. In other cases, straightforward catches for the fielding side were spoiled as the ball hit the roof.
"Batters will no longer be automatically awarded six runs for hitting the Marvel Stadium roof under changes to Cricket Australia's playing conditions for the 2023-24 season," a statement from BBL read (via cricket.com.au).
The new rule that will be in place for KFC BBL|13 beginning on December 7 will put it at the umpires' discretion to determine if the ball was going to clear the boundary. If they decide it was, they will award the batter six runs. If not, it will be ruled a dead ball," the statement continued.
As of writing, Cooper Connolly is batting on 37 runs off 40 deliveries with the Scorchers placed at 99/5 in the 17th over. The left-handed player was struggling at one run off 12 deliveries before switching gears.