"We had a few warnings in earlier games" - USA coach Stuart Law opens up on stop-clock penalty in 2024 T20 World Cup match against India
USA coach Stuart Law has stated that the team had been warned over being slow between overs during earlier games in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. He also admitted that players were given two clear warnings in the match against India before the five-run penalty was imposed.
USA became the first team to be docked five runs under the new stop-clock rule that has been put in place to try and improve the speed of play in T20Is. As per the regulation, 'if the bowling team is not ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings'.
Before the start of the 16th over in India's chase against USA, the on-field umpire was seen having a chat with United States skipper Aaron Jones. Subsequently, it was learnt that the fielding side had been penalized five runs under the new stop-clock rule. India needed 35 runs off 30 balls in a chase off 111. After the penalty was imposed, the equation changed to 30 off 30 balls.
Following USA's seven-wicket loss to India, coach Law shared his thoughts on the five-run penalty imposed on the team during the game.
"Yeah, we talk about this. We had a few warnings in earlier games, and it's something we do talk about to get through faster between the overs. It's just one thing that we can improve on. I think that we're only a fledgling team. There's plenty to learn," he said.
"There's not just the cricket aspect of the game of cricket, but there's also the other intricacies that need to be embedded [among the players]. It's a rule that's only just come in. A lot of our players wouldn't have heard about it before we played in the Bangladesh series or the Canada series earlier this year. So, look, it's something that we need to address, we'll sit down and talk about, but we can improve it, yeah," Law went on to add.
The 55-year-old former Aussie batter admitted that the USA players were given two warnings before the penalty was imposed.
"Players know the rule, but it's something that if you haven't played with it for a long time, it's very difficult to have it embedded in your brain. So, the information coming from the umpires was, they were given two clear warnings, then it's up to the players to respond. And we didn't respond fast enough, we didn't do it well enough, and that's something we can address."
Defending a target of 111, the USA reduced India to 39-3. However, Suryakumar Yadav (50* off 49) and Shivam Dube (31* off 35) combined to take India home.
"Five runs wasn't going to affect the outcome of the game" - USA coach Law
While the five-run penalty was imposed on the USA during a crucial juncture in the game against India, Law does not believe that it affected the outcome of the game. According to him, the penalty did not make or break the contest.
"I don't think it affected the outcome of the game. Five runs wasn't going to affect the outcome of the game so I don't think it rattled [the players]. No, I thought we stuck to our guns, we fought hard, we fought to the death. I thought we showed some fantastic character against one of the best teams in the world," he commented.
Following the loss to India, USA will now take on Ireland in their last Group A match in Lauderhill, Florida on Friday, June 14.