A CONTROVERSIAL dismissal of a Shanklin and Godshill batsman in their Hampshire 3 (South) game at Portsmouth and Southsea — film of which was posted on Twitter and went viral — has sparked plenty of lively debate nationally.

Seb Egerton-Read had edged the ball to the wicketkeeper and, assuming it had been caught, he began to walk off.

However, the keeper had dropped it and, with the bowler, turned away in disappointment.

But a Portsmouth slip fielder picked up the ball and whipped the bails off, appearing to goad Seb in the process as he tried in vain to get back in his crease once he was made aware of what happened.

WATCH: Full video of the dismissal that has sparked lively debate in the cricketing community nationwide 

As the umpire had not called it as a 'dead ball', Seb was dismissed as run out.

While Shanklin thought it was not good sportsmanship, with the opposition captain not exercising his power he had to overturn the decision, video of the incident went viral on social media as cricket fans debated whether or not Seb should have been dismissed under 'misapprehension' law 31.7.

The matter eventually came to the attention of the the MCC, who settled the debate by declaring Seb was indeed out, as the umpire had not called it as a ‘dead ball’.

Seb said: “It was a thin edge. I was frustrated by the shot I played and I went straight off, annoyed with myself, as it was going straight into the keeper's gloves.

"I didn't really know much about it until the other batsman said 'Seb — look behind you.'

Isle of Wight County Press: Seb Egerton-read in action for Shanklin and Godshill. Photo: Dave ReynoldsSeb Egerton-read in action for Shanklin and Godshill. Photo: Dave Reynolds

"I turrned around to see the slip fielder running towards the stumps and take the bails off, then I turned around frustrated again and walked knowing I'd run myself out.

"The debte about it has raged. I didn't know anything about Law 31.7, which is being talked about so widely on cricket blogs.

"The ball was not called 'dead' and I left my ground. There was no tension between the sides as a result of it. 

"It was very unusual. I'd never seen that in a game before. If I'd been at first slip, I wouldn't have taken the bails off, but once you've done it and you're claiming the wicket, you're well within your rights I suppose.

Isle of Wight County Press: Seb Egerton-Read in action for Shanklin last season at Steephill. FILESeb Egerton-Read in action for Shanklin last season at Steephill. FILE

"Law 31.7 is designed to cover batsman misapprehension, which is to say if you think a ball is dead and you've gone to pad down the wicket, it's kind of saying you can't just whip the bails off, or, in that moment, act under different circumstances.

"Weirdly, one of the things the MCC were saying was that technically — unless the umpire calls the ball dead or signals it's dead — they can now retrospectively call the ball dead, as of October 1, in the next cycle of law changes.

"If you're a village level or Hampshire Division 3 level umpire, how are you supposed to know all those laws?

"The captain has the right to withdraw the appeal. If a player acts in a moment of excitement and whips the bails off, the captain can do that.

"It was all very strange. I didn't try to think too much about it until Monday, when it had been posted on Twitter. I had no idea the game was being filmed.

"I'm definitely going to turn around and make sure the ball is in the keeper's gloves next time I'm in that sort of situation. I'll probably do that for the rest of my life now.

"Thankfully, we won the game, that's the main thing."