Lionel Cann has urged all of cricket’s stakeholders to study the laws of the game after the Marylebone Cricket Club upheld his claim that he was unlawfully dismissed during the Eastern Counties match last weekend.

The St David’s batsman was controversially run out after being bowled off a no-ball in the first-round game at Lord’s last weekend.

According to the Laws of Cricket, a batsman can be run out on a no-ball but only if attempting a run, something which video footage clearly demonstrates Cann was not trying to achieve.

After arguing his point with both the Eastern Counties Cricket Association and Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, Cann took matters a step further and provided video footage of the incident to the MCC, who said he “should not have been given out”.

In an e-mail exchange with Cann, Jonny Singer, the Laws of Cricket adviser for the MCC, wrote: “As the video explains, the ball is certainly not dead on the call of no-ball, nor is it dead when the ball initially puts down the wicket. When the ball is in the wicketkeeper’s hands, it is for the bowler’s end umpire to determine whether the ball has finally settled.

“Although the action of the umpire — who turned to signal the no-ball to the scorers — would suggest that he thought the ball was dead, (in accordance with Laws 2.14 (ii) and 23.2), even if it were not dead, a batsman cannot be given out stumped from a no ball.

“For a batsman to be out stumped, as opposed to run out, he must not be attempting a run (See Law 39.1 (a) (iii)) and there must be no other fielder involved than the wicketkeeper (Law 39.1(a)(iv)).

“In addition although either batsman can be run out off a no ball, the striker cannot be run out if under Law 38.2(b)(ii): ... No-ball has been called and he is out of his ground not attempting a run and the wicket is fairly put down by the wicketkeeper without the intervention of another fielder.

“All these criteria apply in this situation as a no-ball has been delivered, the batsman is clearly not attempting a run and the ball is (eventually) put down by the wicketkeeper, but without the intervention of another fielder.

“Thus, I would conclude that this appeal whether for a stumping or run out, should not be given out as the ball bowled was a no-ball.”

Steven Douglas, who is the president of the ECCA and BCUA, said the association (BCUA) have a copy of the MCC’s letter to Cann and will make a statement once they review it.

Cann, who plays league cricket for St George’s, said he felt compelled to set the record straight to avoid similar incidents from reoccurring and has urged players, coaches and umpires to do their homework on the laws of the game.

“I don’t mind people making mistakes, but the problem I have is when people don’t know the law,” he said.

“This is a big issue because a lot of people still don’t know the law and think you are out.

“I just wanted to clear it up for the betterment of cricket and I think everybody should know the law in case it ever happens again.

“The law was always clear to me but now we have a statement from the MCC on the law for people who it wasn’t clear to and I encourage players, coaches, umpires and everyone to read up on the Laws of Cricket so if something like that happens again you will know the law.

“This might hurt a few peoples’ feelings but at the end of the day it brings clarity and shows that players, coaches and umpires really have to look up the laws, which is something that I do on a daily basis to keep up with because the laws are constantly changing.”

Cann said he was horrified when he realised he had been given out.

“I didn’t think for one minute the umpire would give me out,” he said. “I was talking to Picnic [the Bay captain Rodney Trott] and didn’t see the umpire’s finger go up. I heard guys celebrating and turned around and thought, ‘Oh my gosh’.”

“I walked off and told the umpire it was the wrong decision because you can’t be run out off a no-ball if you’re not attempting a run.

“It was a good thing that Earl Basden of IslandStats got it on camera because we have video coverage of the incident that cannot be denied.”

Cann believes that his controversial dismissal changed the complexion of the match, which Bay won by 61 runs to dethrone holders St David’s.

“The game was on the line and it was a big wicket and let Bay back in and the momentum to swing,” he said.