Aussie women’s team are ripped off by umpiring shocker who caused a mini-collapse in the first Ashes Test as superstar Ellyse Perry misses a century by just one point
- Australia make 328-7 on the first day of Test
- A referee error cost Aussies dearly
- Replays show that the England team broke the rules
Australia fell victim to DRS drama in the women’s Ashes Test with Jess Jonassen, which was issued after England took about 20 seconds to ask for a review.
Jonassen was caught attempting to sweep spinner Sophie Ecclestone, but the appeal was initially rejected on the field by field umpire Anna Harris.
It then took several seconds for the DRS countdown timer to appear on Trent Bridge’s big screen, for England to finish deliberating and elect to revise.
Replays of the incident show that it took England about 20 seconds to decide to send the decision upstairs, where Jonassen was handed out with the ball past her glove.
Under ICC rules, players have 15 seconds to post a review.
England roll call for Jess Jonassen’s wicket, which was originally unspent. They took too long to ask for the third umpire review in which the Aussie was dismissed
Jonassen leaves for 11, causing a collapse that saw her side lose three wickets for just 12 runs on a hard-fought first day at Trent Bridge
“The total time elapsed between the ball becoming dead and the request for review being made must not exceed 15 seconds,” the terms of play state.
“If the on-field umpires deem that a request has not been made within the 15-second time limit, they will deny the request for a player review.”
Jonassen’s wicket proved crucial as it started a minor collapse of 3-12 with Alyssa Healy bowled for 0 by Ecclestone and Perry caught gushing on 99 from Lauren Filer.
Perry said there was no objection from Australia on the pitch about England’s ability to judge.
“From a player’s perspective, whether it’s England or us, that’s the time that was given and shown on screen,” said Perry.
There was heartbreak for Ellyse Perry (pictured), who fell to 99 when she bowled clean
England’s Sophie Ecclestone celebrates Perry’s dismissal. She was the choice of the England attack, taking three wickets, including the controversial removal of Jonassen
“How long that took to come up, I’m not sure. It’s something the officials may be able to assess.
“But from a playing perspective you just have to adapt to what’s out there and I think there were five seconds left on the clock.”
It’s not the first time Australia have been on the wrong side of a DRS situation in the game, albeit with the first being wholly self-inflicted.
Debutante Phoebe Litchfield was handed lbw trying to leave Kate Cross early in the day, and immediately walked off the field without properly consulting non-striker Beth Mooney.
Replays of tracking the ball then showed that the ball swinging over Litchfield would have missed the stump, meaning the decision would have been reversed and she would not have been out had she revised.