Trott crosses the line

England’s Jonathan Trott displayed a distinct lack of sportsman spirit when he persisted with his appeal for a catch despite dropping the ball during the first day of the opening Test against India here on Thursday.

Post-tea, when India were at 259 for three, Kohli, who was on four, went for a cut shot off Graeme Swann’s bowling but edged the ball to Trott who was at slip.

The ball struck Trott’s forearm and he dived backward to complete the catch. He, however, dropped it on the turf but still appealed and forced the on-field umpires to refer the matter to third umpire Sudhir Asnani.  

But the television replays clearly showed that the ball spilled out of his hand as he dived backward and then his body covered the ball before he scooped it up and appealed.

It remains to be seen what action match referee Roshan Mahanama takes against the fielder for his action, which was clearly against the spirit of the game.