But, hold on, if that apparently worthless bat or glove was used by a famous athlete then it has inherent value.

FORBES: Bogus Babe Ruth Mitt May Land eBay Buyer In Prison

If the decision looked bad enough in real time, replays showed bat and glove firmly tucked behind the batsman's pad, and several inches away from the path of the ball.

BBC: CHOOSE A SPORT

The ball typically deflects off the edge of the bat or the glove, off the batsman's pads, and into the hands of a nearby fielder.

WSJ: Why Test Cricket Is All In a Spin

Eduardo Nunez, known for his bat more than his glove, would fill in at shortstop for the 13-time All-Star.

WSJ: Yankees work to acquire Vernon Wells from Angels

Observers were quick to criticise him again, after replays showed there was every chance the ball had brushed the batsman's glove and bat en route to James Anderson at leg-slip.

BBC: ICC to investigate referral complaint made by ECB

Mimicking that forced me down into a better fielding position and kept my view of the ball steady from the crack of the bat to the smack of the glove.

WSJ: Pro Ball Baseball Clinic Weekend

The bat boy plunked the ball in the glove.

NPR: Red Sox Game Locks in a Father's Day Memory

De Villiers asked for a review and Harper was satisfied he had enough evidence to overturn the decision, but later TV replays suggested possible contact with glove before it hit De Villiers' pad - and a deflection off the bat afterwards.

BBC: England on course for heavy defeat in Johannesburg Test