England's Alex Hales refutes Sam Billings 'just not cricket' tweet on Deepti Sharma's run-out of Charlie Dean

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has found support from England batter Alex Hales amid the run-out controversy that took place in Lord’s ODI. In the third match between India and England, Deepti ran out Charlie Dean at the non-strikers’ end to help the visitors win by 16 runs.

Deepti ran out the England batter in her bowling stride as Dean, who had scored 40, was backing up too far. Dean’s dismissal brought an end to England’s innings as India completed a 3-0 series sweep. While the mode of dismissal has been legalised by ICC, numerous England cricketers spoke out on Twitter against the incident.

England’s wicketkeeper-batter wrote that the dismissal was unacceptable. “There’s surely not a person who has played the game that thinks this is acceptable? Just not cricket…,” he tweeted.

Well within the laws but not in the spirit.

Just my opinion… the law should be changed back to a warning system or penalty runs for excessive backing up for eg

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) September 24, 2022

In reply to Billings, England opener Alex Hales spoke in support of Deepti and wrote that: “It shouldn’t be difficult for the non striker to stay in their crease til the ball has left the hand…”

It shouldn’t be difficult for the non striker to stay in their crease til the ball has left the hand…

— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) September 24, 2022

While Billings reacted sarcastically to Hales’ tweet, senior pacer and legendary James Anderson shared that Deepti “had no intention to bowl.”