Umpire Joel Wilson has shocked Australia for a third straight Test but Tim Paine only has himself to blame after wasting a review that could have retained the Ashes.
Wilson shook his head as Australia went up in unison for a Nathan Lyon lbw shout in the penultimate over of the nerve-jangling third Test, at which point the tourists held a one-run lead.
Ball-tracking replays showed why, confirming Wilson erred and the on-field verdict could have been overturned on review.
Ben Stokes disputed that verdict, arguing “DRS has got that completely wrong … cannot believe it was three reds”, but the match-winning allrounder’s opinion would have counted for zero if Paine had the power to send it upstairs.
However, Australia’s skipper had already burned both referrals as his ineffectual use of the system continued to prove a talking point in the series.
Paine insisted Wilson’s verdict, which comes after the Trinidadian’s contentious ruling on a catch as third umpire at Lord’s and some eight overturned decisions in the Edgbaston series opener, was “irrelevant”.
But the keeper struggled to hide his disbelief, noting in a post-match interview with Nine that he “can’t fathom why or how that wasn’t given out”.
“England had two referrals, so if it was given out the correct decision would have been made upstairs,” Paine said.
The veteran then told reporters he “saw it live, that’s all I needed to see”.
“I don’t want to watch that again,” Paine said.
“To sit down and single out an umpire is unnecessary. He is no different to everyone else, he is allowed to make mistakes.
“I’ve got every review wrong, so I’m going to give up and give it to someone else.”
Wilson’s struggles in Birmingham led to calls for English and Australian umpires, who make up more than half of the elite panel, to adjudicate in the Ashes.
That debate will continue but Australia will review their reviews rather than focus on an umpire playing no further part in the five-Test series.
England were 2-140 when Paine referred an lbw shout from Lyon in an effort to dismiss Joe Denly, while they were eight runs short of victory when the desperate captain rolled the dice on an lbw appeal from Pat Cummins.
“Spur of the moment (decision) …. have a dabble at it,” Paine recalled of his second review.
“I got it wrong.”
Stokes suggested the drama “shows how crucial it is to make sure you use your reviews, when you get to a situation like that, you still need one.
“If they had one, they would have used it and ended up winning,” the allrounder said.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
lol
anon
Roar Pro
We won it. Only reason England won was because of abject umpire incompetence.
We didnt win it fair and square.....yes a poor decision at the end but we botched two chances which would have won it. Stop crying like all the other losers on this site
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Wilson's performance in the First Test was so outrageously incompetent that he should not have been standing in this match. There was always a risk of this happening. Now whenever any sporting official has a shocker we'll say he had a real Wilson.
anon
Roar Pro
We won it fair and square. The umpire robbed us. The result should be reversed since it was the last wicket to fall of the match. It might cost us the Ashes. This is unforgivable.
Russell Neville
Roar Rookie
We can't blame an umpire, LBWs are difficult to give at the best of times. Why are there only two wrong reviews allowed? We have a situation now where millions of people around the world can all see the batsman is out, but nothing can be done and the wrong decision must stand!! Ludicrous!!! I can't see why each team can't have 10 wrong reviews one for each wicket.
James
Guest
Yep. Lyon fumbles a runout, then pulls it together and gets his man, bang to rights, and wins the test at the death. That's the what we ought to be reading and once again we see that umpiring can make a result entirely arbitrary. Hitting middle and leg, no height concerns. He is there to give those out. Nothing to do with Tim Paine or Ben Stokes or anybody else. Incredible, ridiculous innings by Stokes. Cricket's most talented and, in 2019, impossibly fortunate man.
Harry
Guest
Paine is getting severely criticised for his fateful review from Cummins but IMO given the circumstances when it occurred and the state of the match it was the correct decision - at the time. Had to throw everything at England at that point as the match looked overwhelmingly in their favour. Also Paine deserves praise for bowling Nathan Lyon in that over. It was a successful move, only to be foiled by a truly atrocious bit of umpiring. Stokes' innings IMO the greatest match winning effort ever. He's not responsible for the umpire's howler.
Rob JM
Roar Rookie
Its just farcical that an umpire cant call for a review and give a soft decision when it come to LBW. No other sport intentionally plays russian roulette with their review system.