116:I would never walk off - Beth Mooney after Punam Raut declares herself out despite umpire giving 'not out'
There are so many aspects of the sport of cricket that continue to fascinate fans and divide opinions around the world. The one being discussed extensively is the dilemma of whether or not batters should walk off once they know they are out.
The debate of the issue should also consider the fact that there is a Decision Review System (DRS) which also adds a whole new dimension to the ethical narrative. However, when India's Raut edged one to the wicketkeeper during India's ongoing pink-ball Test match against Australia, there was no DRS and neither had the umpire raised his finger or even appeared to contemplate whether the batter had edged the ball.
Even the appeal did not seem to be a convincing one but none of that seemed to bother Raut who took off her gloves and walked back to the dressing room. Her gesture has met with both appreciation and harassment from people of her own fraternity.
I would never walk off, at times it goes in your way as well: Mooney
Not much later after Raut's dismissal, Australian cricketer Beth Mooney was caught in the stump mic saying that she would never walk off since sometimes the decisions tend to go against them, and thus the sport balances it all out. However, the 31-year-old Indian batter clearly does not agree with this philosophy.
Earlier in the day, Smriti Mandhana registered her maiden Test match hundred, becoming the first Indian woman to score a ton in the pink-ball format. She reached the triple-figure mark on the 170th delivery and eventually got out for 127 from 216 balls. During her innings, she stitched 93 runs for the first wicket with Shafali Verma (31). Later, she added 102 runs for the second wicket with Raut as the duo played 259 deliveries before Mandhana fell prey to Ashleigh Gardner.
India 276/5 at stumps on Day 2
Shortly after, Sophie Molineux produced that edge on which Raut declared herself out. Till the end of the day's play on Friday, India made 276/5 with only 2 more days left in what has been a weather-impacted match so far at Carrara Oval.