Hales refunds fan $7 for slow over rate

Take a bow Alex and Alexis – two men who have brought cricket’s perennial problem with slow over rates back into focus.

Alexis Fuller is a disgruntled fan who came to Edgbaston on the third day of this third Test between England and Pakistan.

Having shelled out £41 (AU$70) for his ticket, Fuller was none too pleased when, despite an extra half hour of play, just 81 of the scheduled 90 overs were bowled on the day.

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So, feeing short-changed he tweeted nine of England’s players demanding a 10 per cent refund.

Tweeting from his account @lexfuller, he said: "I want 10% of my money back. Wouldn’t go to football and find it ended after 80 minutes."

Fuller, who describes himself in his bio as a man who "mostly moans about sport", probably didn’t expect anyone to come back to him.

However, Hales, to his credit, replied: "ok, DM [direct message] me your bank details. I’ll do it now."

An England spokesman later confirmed the opener had transferred £4.10 (AU$7) to the irate fan. Fuller himself also posted a copy of the payment on his Twitter feed, adding: "Very kind gesture."

Image Id: ~/media/15ECBD455BFB42049B94B31868C80257 Image Caption: Hales' transaction was confirmed // @lexfuller

As it transpired, Fuller donated the money to the Lord’s Taverners charity and while the amount we’re talking about here is akin to a pint of beer, the gesture by Hales was a significant one.

So often sportsmen are criticised for being aloof and cut off from the outside world.

Hales, part of an England side in the field who bowled just 20 overs during the middle session on day three in Birmingham, was not only man enough to stand up and engage with the supporter but pay him recompense from his own pocket. Not many sports stars would do that even though the amount was small.

Interestingly, players compensating fans for slow over rates was an idea floated by Wisden editor Lawrence Booth on Friday. Writing in the Daily Mail, Booth said: "If Test cricket is serious about keeping up with the times, it should prove it. Make the players refund the crowd for overs unbowled – and watch the rate rise through the roof."

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There were some mitigating factors for England bowling so few overs on Friday afternoon. A delay prompted by James Anderson’s complaint about footholes led to several minutes of work by ground staff, five Pakistan wickets fell, there was a break for Sarfraz Ahmed to receive treatment after he was hit on the hand, two reviews and then, of course, the delay when Anderson was pulled out of the attack for receiving his third warning for straying onto the protected area of the pitch.

However, 20 overs in two hours is still remarkably slow and England captain Alastair Cook needs to watch himself given he was punished for his side’s slow over rate in last year’s Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval. A second offence inside a year carries a one-match ban for the captain.

Those extenuating circumstances on day three here are likely to see Cook escape any ban as the officials at Edgbaston gave the hosts eight overs grace because of the various delays.

Still, those in the ground had every right to feel short changed and unless players want more demands for refunds from irate fans like Fuller, they might want to think about hurrying things up in future.