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New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden has sprung to the defence of Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum, insisting they were not guilty of contravening the spirit of the game during the opening test at Christchurch.
The pair were cast as the villains against Sri Lanka on Saturday after tailender Muttiah Muralitharan was run out while walking up the wicket to congratulate his partner Kumar Sangakkara, who had just reached his century.
Muralitharan had just completed the single that allowed Sangakkara to bring up the milestone, and immediately sauntered back up the wicket to extend his best wishes, despite the ball being on the way back to McCullum.
The New Zealand wicket-keeper removed the bails and appealed to square-leg umpire Brian Jerling, who had little option but to apply the law and give Muralitharan out.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene later condemned the move, saying his side would never have stooped to the same levels in similar situations. He also claimed Sri Lanka let off New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle during a copycat incident during the Champions Trophy.
"Kumar [Sangakkara] was very disappointed and that is what he told Nathan [Astle] today," said Jayawardene. "It's the game that we play. We wouldn't have done it, full stop.
"I am disappointed, the whole team is disappointed. The ball was alive, yes; but we play in an age where there is supposed to be sportsmanship, and a spirit of the game."
But Snedden - himself a former test cricketer - said yesterday the incident had nothing to do with the spirit of cricket, and that some of his players were being unfairly accused.
"I disagree with Jayawardene," he said. "This isn't about the spirit of cricket, it's not about anyone being guilty of sharp practice or dodgy behaviour - it's just a clear-cut dismissal.
"I'm unhappy about the reaction to what's happened. I think the criticism directed towards Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum, in particular, has been unwarranted and over the top.
"I've never seen a similar situation in competitive cricket that hasn't ended in exactly the same result."
Snedden said it was ludicrous to expect McCullum to not only assess whether a batsman was legally out of his ground, but to also read his mind and establish whether he was attempting another run, or not.
And he said neither the New Zealand gloveman nor his skipper should be having a second thought about their actions.
"Neither should be concerned about their reputations," he said.
"Our players are fair players, and there wasn't anything that happened during the test at Christchurch that's changed that."
Fleming was also resolute yesterday, saying there was no doubt in his mind that the ball was live, and that Muralitharan could have possibly gained an advantage had the return throw from the outfield been misdirected.
"If the return throw had gone over Brendon's head I'm sure they would've taken the second so Sangakkara could come back on strike," he said.
"In our minds it was a mistake from Muralitharan.
"I'm sure there's some disappointment from Sri Lanka ... but that should be at their batsmen, not at us."
McCullum was even more adamant he'd acted fairly, insisting he'd do the same thing again in similar circumstances. "We didn't even contemplate the spirit of cricket ... it was an opportunity to take a wicket and we took it.
"After 109 test matches, you should know better than to walk out of your ground to celebrate a guy's 100 when the ball's still alive."
