Aussie legend Glenn McGrath claims England ‘get the best of the decisions’ after overturned catch

Glenn McGrath was left furious by the controversial decision to knock down an England wicket late in the evening session of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Saturday.

England opener Ben Duckett was handed out after somehow managing to take a Cameron Green bouncer deep in the leg.

Mitchell Starc – who had already picked up two wickets – steamed in to make the catch dive to the left, before appearing to ground the ball.

Although the catch appeared to have been taken, he allowed the ball to scrape the floor, with his fingers crucially not under the ball, leaving umpire Marais Erasmus with no choice but to reverse the call.

And McGrath – who has taken more Test wickets than any fast bowler apart from the England duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad – was adamant that his old foe got the green’s roughness with the decisions.

Marais Erasmus’s review found that the ball was pressed to the ground without Starc’s fingers underneath

Australian legend Glenn McGrath branded the referee’s controversial decision a ‘disgrace’

“If that’s England taking that catch, that’s it!” he said.

England has the best conditions and now they get the best rules. That’s the biggest garbage dump I’ve ever seen.

“If that’s not out, every catch I’ve ever seen shouldn’t be out. That’s a shame.’

After the decision, Starc was also furious to hear and confront Duckett over the call, although the opener had no part in the decision.

The Notts batsman had already begun to leave the pitch before boos in the crowd suggested foul play might have been going on.

On his way back to the pavilion he stopped at the hint of a lifeline, he was eventually called back to the crease after Erasmus’ assessment and remained there to stumps alongside his captain Ben Stokes.

The postponement came at a crucial time in the Test – and indeed the series – with England having lost their first four wickets after a breathtaking bowling spell from both Starc and his captain, Pat Cummins.

After being bowled out for 279 in their second innings, Australia set England a target of 371 to win the second Test and tie the series, but the hosts made a hash of their chase early on.

Ben Duckett was given a reprieve after being caught deep-legged by a Cameron Green bouncer

The Notts and England opener had already made its way onto the boundary rope before being recalled

Pat Cummins (pictured) and Starc blew away England’s lower order with a breathtaking bowling spell

England’s best batsman Joe Root – the highest run scorer of any active player – was out for 18

Duckett’s opening partner Zak Crawley was caught behind Starc, ahead of the quick castrated Ollie Pope, with Cummins removing Joe Root’s main wicket and then bowling Harry Brook for just four.

Stokes then came in to stabilize the ship alongside Duckett, who will open the batting at 50 on Sunday morning after the pair’s 69-run partnership led the home side to 114 for four, 257 runs behind the old foe.

But the great Aussia swing bowler wasn’t the only ex-Ashes legend baffled by the decision, with former England batsman Marcus Trescothick also suggesting it might have been a clean catch.

“I thought the catch was well done, but I have no idea about the rules,” he said.

“We’ve seen different ones in this game and different decisions have been made. We needed a bit of luck, hopefully that’s a sign things are changing.

“Whatever happens now, it will be an exciting final day. We’re still pretty optimistic, we’re in a positive unity. We have good days and bad days. You enjoy it on a good day, but you don’t get too down on a bad day. You take the rough with the smooth.

‘Who knows? They never really got going, they didn’t get any scoring momentum, they probably wanted 400 or 450, with a lot more time to go. We managed to pick up wickets, limit the runs, so we’re pretty happy with that.’

England’s collapse at a lower level leaves the Test in Australia’s favour, with the visitors able to rise 2-0 in the series.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes England’s next two wickets are crucial

Stokes were on point as England stunned Australia at Headingley with a 135 not out to win the Test

Australia haven’t won the Ashes in England since 2001, when McGrath was sidelined, but if Stokes and Duckett fell cheap on Sunday, that long streak could come to an end.

Australia will be wary of having Stokes in the fold, however, as the Durham all-rounder stunned them with an innings of 135 not out in 2019 at Headingley – regarded as one of the greatest innings in history – to win the game for England to win. .

“Australia will think it’s all about taking the next two wickets,” claimed 2005 Ashes winning captain Michael Vaughan. “For me, England’s next two wickets will have to add over 200 runs to keep the game alive.

“Australia will take note that Ben Stokes has done it to them before. His 2019 Ashes innings are regarded by some as the best innings in Test cricket history. He’ll have to produce something similar if England wants to come close.’