India v USA: Suryakumar Yadav’s dreamy straight six ends stop-clock controversy

Let’s put this out there straight away: cricket’s five-run penalty law is a good thing.

It was first introduced to cover a variety of ills. Player misbehaviour. Sharp practice. Ball tampering. Lots of stuff that is worth clamping down on.

The fielding side shall be ready to start each over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed.
An electronic clock will be displayed at the ground that counts down seconds from 60 to zero.
The clock is not required or, if already started, can be cancelled if:
• A new batter comes to the wicket between overs.
• An official drinks interval has been called.
• The umpires have approved the on field treatment of an injury to a batter or fielder.
• The time lost is for any circumstances beyond the control of the fielding side.
• The third umpire starts the clock either when the ball has become dead at the end of the previous over, or a review has been completed.
• The team gets two warnings if they are not ready to start overs after the clock reaches zero.
• On the third and any subsequent occasion in an innings, the bowler’s end umpire awards five runs.

Then, more recently, an addendum was added. In December 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the trial of a stop clock.

It was designed to restrict the amount of time taken between overs, mandating that the bowling team need to be ready to bowl the first ball of their next over within 60 seconds of the previous one.

“Failure to do so for the third time in an innings, following two warnings, will result in a five-run penalty being imposed against the fielding team,” says the playing condition.

Again, a good thing. Anything to speed up play in a game that suffers when it ambles is most welcome.

But the timing of