CREASE BOUND

Handled ball was, well, dismissed as a mode of dismissal in 2017. But that did not give players carte blanche to use their hands to protect the stumps. You are simply be out obstructing the field instead. Wellington opener Tom Blundell became just the second New Zealand firstclass batsman to be dismissed for obstructing the field when he lost his wicket that way against Otago at the Basin Reserve last week. Had the laws not been tweaked he would have joined a slightly longer list which includes Canterbury pace bowler Will Williams, who was dismissed handled ball on debut. There is a trivia question for you. Other notable players who were dismissed handled ball include Australian great Steve Waugh, West Indies opener Desmond Haynes and English pair Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan.