Nathan Lyon was denied several potential wickets by the umpires on a tense final day of the third Test as Australia were forced to settle for a draw against South Africa in the rain-shortened match in Sydney.
Lyon had two glaring wickets denied – one from an LBW decision and another from another low catch which was given out but overruled by the third umpire when the batter stood their ground, plus a couple of other close LBW calls.
The batter on each occasion for the main two controversies was Heinrich Klaasen who lasted 61 deliveries in his 35 in the second innings after the tourists were forced to follow on. The drawn result prevented Australia from sweeping the three-match series and from going five from five in their home summer program against the Proteas and West Indies.
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh was adamant the LBW call was wrong even though the DRS ruled the impact was umpire’s call, meaning Chris Gaffaney’s original not-out decision remained.
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“I reckon that’s given out nine times out of 10,” Waugh said.
Waugh and fellow Fox Cricket commentators Ian Smith and Kerry O’Keeffe were also bemused when Klaasen was given not out off Lyon when a catch by Steve Smith at slip was ruled to have not carried.
“With all the forensic technology to stop this sort of thing happening, the wrong decisions are still being made,” O’Keeffe said.
Gaffaney gave the soft signal of out as he lodged the third review this Test for a suspected catch in the slips cordon.
Third umpire Richard Kettleborough examined multiple replays and requested to view a side-on angle of the would-be catch.
But none was forthcoming as host broadcaster Fox Sports, which provides footage to the third umpire, did not have access to a side-on replay.
Despite this, Kettleborough zoomed in on a front-on angle of the catch before determining the ball had contacted the ground after it passed into Smith’s hands, just as he believed it did on two previous occasions in this Test.
“It was a shame we didn’t hold those chances and a couple of those half calls didn’t go our way, especially early,” Cummins said. “Fourteen wickets in a day is always hard work, especially given the wickets wasn’t doing all sorts.
“Realistically, you would like to send them back in before lunch. Ten wickets in the last 40 or 50 overs is always going to be hard work.”
Klaasen was eventually dismissed for 35, three overs after the non-catch, when Josh Hazlewood’s length ball swung into the stumps as he tried to play a drive.
Australia celebrate with the trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Hazlewood took 4-48 in his comeback from injury as South Africa were bowled out for 255 in reply to Australia’s 4(dec)-475.
Pat Cummins (3-60) and Lyon (2-88) also toiled hard as the Proteas dug in after resuming on 6-149.
Ashton Agar went wicketless but Cummins said he was certain the West Australian would be named in the tour squad to India later in the week.
“I’m sure Ash will be there,” Cummins said. “This wicket was a lot different to India. It wasn’t really spinning out of the middle. I thought he did really well.”
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Proteas captain Dean Elgar was out for 10, gloving a short ball for the fourth time this series, to give the Aussies a glimmer of hope of bowling out the visitors in the 47 overs left for their second innings.
But Klaasen put on 48 in 18 overs with Sarel Erwee (42 not out), who then combined with Temba Bavuma (17 not out) to see the South Africans to safety at 2-106 when stumps were called early with no result possible.
“The players had a conversation last night,” Elgar said. “We could lie down and let Aussie roll us here and create a little more embarrassment. Or we could go out and fight on day five.”
Australia’s wins in Brisbane and Melbourne last month had allowed them to claim their first series win over the Proteas since 2014.
Al
Guest
Been saying much the same for years. I wonder if there's a worry about showing the uncertainty in some cases where the ball tracking is very uncertain, like when a batter is struck immediately after a ball has pitched. We've certainly seen some very odd predictions when the software has little data to predict a trajectory with.
matth
Roar Guru
As does everyone, they have won 30 series in a row at home! In their last 14 series at home they’ve lost a grand total of 2 tests, one to us. So yes, we will struggle.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Because we needed it. Because Lyon deserved it. Because it looked out. Because it's the vibe. Surely those are the words as written in the laws.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Why should it still be out?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Obviously very but on my first emotional outraged view I called it plumb without waiting to see where it struck him. Still should be out.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
And? But wouldn't it?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why "but"? Wouldn't "and" be more appropriate?
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
The scheduling is largely out of CA’s hands actually. And we can’t have only England and India touring…
JohnB
Roar Rookie
And they just wantonly threw away their record streak of result matches. No thought for posterity.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Indeed. At some point that has to change
Rusty Brooks
Roar Rookie
I could be wrong, but it appears as though the ICC is pretty much there to look after the interests of India, Australia and England.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
We still struggle in India!
Rellum
Roar Guru
It struck him outside the line. How is that hard to get
Rellum
Roar Guru
Which is why the ICC needs to take control of the schedule
matth
Roar Guru
Exactly. I guarantee you Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Ireland will struggle the first time they ever receive a test here in Australia. But if they get some every few years they will get better.
matth
Roar Guru
I agree the umpiring was fine. All of the LBW's were close enough that they would have been 'correct' whichever way they went, and funnily enough the umpire gave the benefit of the doubt to the batsman. Perfect. Also the out LBW where the ball hit the pad a split second before bat was a masterful umpiring call on the field. The issue with the catches is simply that the technology isn't up to the task and the third umpire is hamstrung by his own rules.
Handles
Roar Guru
What the second Harmer call has demonstrated beyond all doubt is that very few cricket watchers understand LBW. There are three tests that an LBW 'out' call has to pass. The ball has to pitch in line with the stumps or outside off stump. The ball has to strike the batter in line with the stumps.* The ball has to be hitting the stumps. * - if the batter is playing a shot. The Lyon decision was turned down not because of where it pitched, and not because it wasn't going to hit the stumps, but because it (arguably) hit Harmer outside the line of off stump.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
With cheese?
Ben Pobjie
Expert
“ We could lie down and let Aussie roll us here and create a little more embarrassment.” Yeah! They could have! Why didn’t they do that? That would’ve been better.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'm in the mood for a steamed ham.