The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Lemon's Ashes Diary: Lord's lost, but umpiring lamentable

21st July, 2013
Advertisement
Should the twelfth man have more involvement in cricket? (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Expert
21st July, 2013
23
2525 Reads

While most Australian reports will be lamenting an embarrassing display in the Lord’s defeat, it’s hard to resist the euphoria in London. The only real sour taste comes from the genuinely embarrassing umpiring.

As I wrote about yesterday, England fans are slowly adjusting to the idea that their side is firmly on top of Australia, favourites, expecting to not just win but dominate.

Today was the final manifestation of that theory, as England closed out their second-biggest runs-based win at home.

The margin of 347 was flattered by the lower order. It could so easily have been over 400.

But along with the joy of English fans has been bonhomie, generousness, consideration.

While a few who we caught on tape were caught up in the elation of their moment, their conversations with us still included a remarkable reluctance to gloat.

No doubt there are some out there to whom these descriptions wouldn’t apply, but none that we met streaming out of Lord’s, brimming with delight that the match had been closed out in the final over of the fourth day, precluding the need to return for brief final rites on the last.

Advertisement

Where Ashton Agar was the bright star of youth at Trent Bridge, a successor donned harvest queen’s tiara for this match. Looking too young to generate even Stuart Broad’s dire attempts at stubble, Joe Root, the Yorkshire kid, produced a commanding performance.

It’s no surprise that an eight-hour Root destroyed Australia’s players.

Joe’s innings went from desperate to stubborn to outrageous across three days of play, then he bobbed up with the ball to remove our two top scorers and best hopes in the final survival innings.

As much as this Test marks England’s ascension, it’s a corresponding plummet for Australia.

From the series-losing final summer Test against South Africa, to some paltry wins over Sri Lanka, across the disastrous tour of India and now onto England’s unaccommodating shores, Australia has now lost six Tests in a row.

The worst ever sequence concluded in 1887, with seven losses. Our country has never lost eight.

The signs were all poor. Australia won the first day of this Test, yet still managed to get thoroughly pantsed in four.

Advertisement

The bloke who made 180 could have been out for 8, but Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke let an edge pass between them without moving. Similar chances went begging at Trent Bridge.

On a deck made for batting, Australia managed two half centuries across two innings. England made three and added two hundreds.

Australia’s tail keep showing up the top order. Batting for survival, James Pattinson faced more balls than anyone but Usman Khawaja. After those two and Clarke, the next on the list were Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris.

The final partnership added 43 runs, the one before it 30. If every partnership could have emulated this, the team could have closed on 400.

But for all Australia’s self-made woes, the truly abysmal umpiring in both matches so far must be resolved.

Third umpire for this match Tony Hill should be looking for ‘Help Wanted’ signs on the way to Old Trafford, though as one correspondent pointed out, he’d be unlikely to spot them.

Australia has had a frustrating time with referrals this series. Time and again, the lbw reviews called by Australia’s bowlers have reprieved English batsmen based on umpire’s call, while our batsmen are denied reprieves by the same measure. The ones our batsmen don’t challenge are the ones that prove incorrect.

Advertisement

There was criticism of the Agar stumping decision that went Australia’s way, but with shadow on the line it lacked conclusive evidence.

But in this match, Hill surely lost any sense of his role or responsibilities.

First he gave Ian Bell not out to a low catch by Steve Smith, though the fielder insisted it was clean and the replays showed Smith’s fingers low to the ground and under the ball.

Every commentator, journalist, and even England fans at the ground agreed the decision was blatantly wrong, but Hill took just two perfunctory replays to make it.

Then he went for the reverse tactic in Australia’s final innings, giving both Smith and Agar out to caught behind decisions with no conclusive proof. There were suggestions of a Hot Spot smudge on Smith’s bat, but the rolling images suggested the mark was there before the ball passed.

As for Agar, he was ruled not out by the standing umpire, and despite absolutely no contact being recorded by Hot Spot, Hill gave it out citing “a clear noise and deflection”.

If there was a clear deflection, there was also clearly an elephant having a tea party at square leg.

Advertisement

So with Snicko not available to third umpires, Hill overturned a not-out decision based on a slight microphone noise that may or may not have been bat.

It was the first time Agar has lost his smile, and he paused on his way off the field to make enquiries of standing umpire Marais Erasmus before leaving the field with a thundercloud visage.

With Shane Watson apparently having been taught how to use the DRS, someone must beat its correct application into the heads of the third umpires before the next Test starts.

Currently it is a shambles, embarrassing Test cricket and leaving a feeling of injustice over its decisions.

Nonetheless, we have seen outstanding cricket, and enjoyed the company of those we’ve met and corresponded with while seeing it. People have been stopping to chat with us outside the ground about some of the Ashes Diary videos they’ve seen.

For now, Cam and I are off to Iceland, to lead an unendorsed ICC development trip. We’ll report back with our results, then make our way to Manchester.

Excellent Manchester related stat: Ryan Giggs has played more Premier League games than Manchester City.

Advertisement

Stand by for some of the Ashes Diary footage we haven’t had the chance to show you yet, which should be available here over the coming days and weeks.

close