Nathan Lyon is a number 11 batsman. This Adelaide day-night Test has produced conditions which have made it difficult for even top order batsmen to make runs.
Some of the reactions to his non-dismissal yesterday have been exaggerated.
Twitter was awash with cricket fans making ludicrous claims.
They were variously calling Lyon a cheat, accusing Englishman third umpire Nigel Llong of deliberately trying to dupe New Zealand, or claiming that visiting teams always are robbed by umpires in Australia.
Some New Zealand fans were stating that Lyon’s not-out decision alone had swung the series to Australia and would be the key reason were the Kiwis to lose the Test.
Frustration with the DRS system is completely understandable, and I’ll get to that in a moment. But let’s not get carried away here – Lyon bats at 11 for a reason and conditions have been very challenging for batting in this match.
New Zealand are at fault for allowing Lyon and fellow tail-ender Mitchell Starc to score so easily following the controversial decision.
After bowling with great discipline to that point, the Kiwis seemed to let the DRS decision distract them. Their bowling lost its direction and Brendon McCullum’s tactics were poor.
In particular, his choice of bowling out-of-form spinner Mark Craig to the hobbled Starc was dumbfounding.
Anyone who has kept track of Starc’s batting would be well aware that he loves to take to the spinners, and is adept at dispatching them over the leg side. He has a Test 99 on a turning track in India due to this skill against spin.
With a fractured foot limiting Starc’s feet movement, the obvious ploy was to target him with fast yorkers.
Instead, McCullum went with Craig, his limited tweaker who has been dispatched over and over by the Australians in this series, conceding more than five runs per over with an average in the 60s. Starc was patently delighted with the opportunity to sit in his crease and heave a slow bowler.
As he has done time and again to spinners, even those far more talented than Craig, Starc peppered the leg side boundary with robust blows.
In the space of nine balls, Starc smashed Craig to the boundary three times and over it twice, reaping 24 runs in the process and earning Australia a crucial lead in a low-scoring match.
This strategic blunder by McCullum was every bit as significant in the flow of this Test as was the Lyon DRS fiasco.
Now, to that DRS decision. There is both doubt and confusion surrounding the reliability of the technology used in the DRS system and the interpretations made of the technological evidence by the third umpire.
Hot Spot showed a large mark on Lyon’s blade, one so big it suggested a thick edge. With no visible evidence as to what, other than the ball, could have created this mark, why would Llong not overturn the decision and dismiss Lyon?
Just as strangely, how is it possible that such a big edge would not create a sound on the Snicko system?
At other times Snicko has registered noises from edges so faint that they didn’t show up on Hot Spot, even when spinners have been operating.
Hot Spot was banished from the DRS system for the 2013-14 Ashes after its accuracy was repeatedly questioned as a result of a sequence of controversial decisions in the 2013 Ashes in England.
Snicko, meanwhile, was not used in that 2013 Ashes because of concerns about the ability of the technology to sync the sounds registered with real-time footage.
That 2013 Ashes produced a series of bemusing DRS decisions where the technology available failed to overturn what appeared like incorrect on-field decisions.
The problem is that the third umpire is allowed to overturn a decision when Hot Spot is contradicting Snicko, or vice versa.
Surely it would be safer to require that both Hot Spot and Snicko show evidence of an edge for a not-out caught-behind decision to be overturned.
Currently, for a batsman to have their caught-behind dismissal overturned there must be a double negative – no evidence of an edge on either of the technologies.
A double positive requirement to overturn not-out caught-behinds should be introduced. To delay yesterday’s enthralling Test by six minutes only to get a decision most people disagreed with was needless. Change the rules.
Corry
Guest
So true, Nate. And too bad if you want to rewatch any of the footage to enjoy any good play afterwards - totally wrecked by their continual whinging and raking it over again and again.
Corry
Guest
I think Starcy was always coming out to bat .... otherwise when Lyono wandered off, thinking he was going to be given out, why wasn't Neville going with him?
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Oh for an objective well written article from this hack
Tock
Guest
Hi Ronan your starting to scare me the way you read my mind:) needless to say; agree entirely. I reckon you have got a whole new article on this subject alone and the lack of depth in our first class batting ranks. A quick look at the first class stats of possible future aust batsmen and those of some currently playing is a major concern. Is the bowling that good around the the country that our latest batting selections for aust; Kawaja Burns and both Marsh brothers have first c;lass averages in the low 40's and lower.
John
Guest
Problem easy fixed - have a fourth umpire to review the third umpire's review of the on field umpire's original decision - then a fifth umpire could...............
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
It is a massive shame that one decision should detract so much from the test, but it doesn't have to, you know.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Yes, in my experience it is uncharacteristic in a New Zealand sportsperson to take responsibility for their situation in a match themselves when they can find a way to pin it on something or someone else, like an umpire ... so basically, you just confirmed my point.
13th Man
Guest
Funny considering its normally the other way round with Adelaide being a batsmans pitch and Perth being better for the bowlers.
13th Man
Guest
Yes another shocker and the reason why DRS is still flawed. The third umpire doesn't always interpret the technology right.
13th Man
Guest
Wow Tim the pitches in India are a disgrace. It is blatant cheating by India. It was a day 10 pitch on day 1. How is that fair to South Africa?
13th Man
Guest
Mate I am an Aussie but absolutely agree with you. It was a terrible decision and cost NZ the test match and a drawn series. Can understand why you guys wouldn't be too happy right now.
Galaxy Hop
Guest
Mate, the umpires are neutral. They are not Australian. What could possibly be a reasonable motivation for that sort of corruption? You're being myopic, and it's the bias for your team that is eliciting your paranoia. There is no conspiracy here.
Galaxy Hop
Guest
I know mate, it's just so hard for the Australian cricket team to beat the New Zealanders. It's like, how did we lose that test at the Gabba? How did we lose the World Cup final? This is not like rugby; you can't rely on beating us because our footballers are diluted over 3 major contact codes. Maybe New Zealand could be the best cricket team in Oceania if Australia played baseball more than we played cricket. Until then, you'll have to keep to that sport that's really only played in Australia by the kids of rich people that go to private schools.
Billy G
Guest
... and that's exactly why they have several different types of technology at their disposal. It's not a matter of needing to get a tick in every box to make a call. It's the weight of evidence. The surprising call was Llong's explanation that the mark could have come from anything despite being in precisely the spot that the ball passed/touched the bat. Highly disappointing for the Kiwis and extremely embarrassing for the Aussies. Tremendous Test match though ...
Billy G
Guest
Wow Bakkies, will you ever be able to get over the exit of the Boks from the RWC. This is a cricket article yet 3/4 of your rant is about the rugby and a line ball pass. This is not about karma, this is about your bitterness and denial. 4 more year ... 4 more years !!!!!
Gunther
Guest
No.
Don Freo
Guest
I am talking about the fans that are so big on Kiwis as the only human beings alive that do things correctly. Having said that, Taylor last night and McCullum tonight were particularly in conflict with their stated values.
Bakkies
Guest
I've been privileged to have watched Russell Tiffin and Asoka de Silva umpire they gave LBWs out when the ball would have hit the sixth 'stump.' That's why DRS was brought in the first place. As for the Kiwis this is called karma. Australians and Saffers have seen hundreds of howlers let go in the ABs favour over the years including in the extended TMO era. That forward volleyball pass that McCaw threw to the try scorer in the semi final took the biscuit. Scary thing is that a load more were let go throughout the tournament. This is from the team and support base that threw their toys out of the cot and spent four years hounding a young referee after the Michalak pass in Cardiff in the 2007 RWC. For every Michalak pass there's hundreds more in the ABs favour and they're happy to stick it to opposition fans who dare pick them out.
FRR
Guest
Control the things you can, who bowls from what end and accept the outcomes of things you can't control.
rasty
Guest
Yes, robbed by a better team wit a better scorecard.