MCC, as custodians of the laws of cricket, have shifted emphasis by pronouncing that Ravi Ashwin’s running out of Jos Buttler, when backing up, was not “within the spirit of the game.”

Following the incident in the match between Kings XI Punjab, led by Ashwin, and Buttler’s team Rajasthan Royals, MCC’s original statement had implied more criticism of Buttler than Ashwin: “with batsmen now being deemed in or out by millimetres by TV replays on quick singles, it is right that they should remain in their ground at the non-striker’s end until it is fair for them to leave.”

However, MCC’s manager of the Laws Fraser Stewart told the Telegraph on Wednesday: “Having extensively reviewed the incident again and after further reflection we don’t think it was within the spirit of the game.

“We believe the pause was too long between the time Ashwin reached the crease and the moment it was reasonable to expect the ball would be delivered,” Stewart explained, referring to Ashwin’s pause in the crease - before pulling out of his delivery and running out Buttler who was backing up. “When Buttler could have reasonably expected the ball to be delivered, he was in his ground.”