Perth Scorchers batsman Cooper Connolly hits the ball onto the roof of Marvel Stadium during their Big Bash League (BBL 2024-25) match against Melbourne Renegades. Cooper Connolly sent the ball straight across the pitch off the bowling of Kane Richardson but the umpire declared it a dead ball.
The Melbourne Renegades won the toss and chose to bowl at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Monday 23 December. The Scorchers took until the 11th ball of the innings to score a run in the powerplay. Finn Allen (0-for-3) and Keaton Jennings (9-for-12) were among the first batters to fall.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis almost hit the roof but was caught by Jake Fraser-McGurk on the boundary. Inglis was dismissed cheaply by Will Sutherland, leaving the Scorchers at 3-28 after seven overs. The team's batting took a turn for the worse as they collapsed to 35/4 in 8.1 overs during the innings.
Cooper Connolly hits the ball on the roof but no run is given
As the Scorchers tried to recover from a poor start, Cooper Connolly's mis-shot went straight up and hit the roof in the 10th over. The bowler, Kane Richardson, attempted a one-handed catch. According to the rules, if a player catches the ball with one hand after it hits the roof, the batter will be out.
Richardson was unable to hold the attempted one-handed catch and injured himself in the process. He was assessed by the doctor and the umpires declared the delivery a dead ball.
Previously, the batting team was awarded six runs when the ball hit the roof, but the umpires now have the authority to decide the outcome of the delivery based on where the ball made contact.
Watch the incident right here:
That one hit the roof 👀#BBL14 pic.twitter.com/1LZqOtIHTs
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 23, 2024
The BBL drops six automatic rules for roof contact in 2023
The roof at Marvel Stadium has caused problems for batsmen and fielders alike in the BBL as balls intended for sixes sometimes land inside the boundary. In other cases, simple grips are broken when the ball hits the roof.
To address this, Cricket Australia has changed the rules for the 2023-24 season. Under the new rule, batsmen will no longer be automatically awarded six runs for hitting the roof. If the umpires believe they have crossed the line, six runs will be awarded; if not, the delivery will be considered a dead ball.
“Batsmen will no longer receive an automatic six points for hitting the roof of Marvel Stadium under Cricket Australia's playing conditions for the 2023-24 season,” the BBL said in a statement (via cricket.com.au).
The new rule which will be in place for KFC BBL|13 from December 7 will put it at the discretion of the umpires to determine whether the ball will cross the boundary. If they decide it was, they will award six runs to the batsman. If not, it will be considered a dead ball,” the statement continued.
Read also: Rohit Sharma has been the number 1 T20I batter since 2024