Aussies lash out at SHOCKING ruling that robbed side of a crucial wicket in Boxing Day Test against India
Australian cricket stars and fans have been left furious by an umpire’s call that prevented the side from taking a crucial wicket on the tense final day of the Boxing Day Test against India.
Mitchell Starc and his teammates were convinced he had trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal LBW, so captain Pat Cummins decided to check it out. The graphical representation of the ball’s trajectory showed that it was on course to hit the stumps of the Indian star.
However, when the call was referred back to the umpire, he decided not enough ball had hit the woodwork to justify sending off Jaiswal, leaving Cummins and his men in arms – and Australian cricket fans lashing out online.
The highly controversial decision came after Cummins struck twice in an over to give Australia a chance at a famous Boxing Day Test victory.
Chasing an MCG record 340, India crawled into lunch at 3-33 on day five, effectively ruling them out of winning the fourth Test but with a great chance of salvaging a draw.
Jaiswal rubbed salt in Australia’s wounds by scoring a fine half-century as fans lashed out online.
Mitchell Starc couldn’t believe it when he thought he had Yashasvi Jaiswal at LBW but was denied despite the DRS appearing to show the Indian star was out
Pictured: Starc (left) and his teammates are shocked as Jaiswal is allowed to stay at the crease during India’s thrilling chase
Australian cricket fans lashed out after the DRS image (pictured) appeared to show the ball hitting Jaiswal on the pads could have hit the stumps
The rules state that at least half of the ball must appear to hit the stumps in the digital review before the dismissal can be given – and while that appeared to be the case in the on-air image, the bails do not count as a part of the wicket.
‘Absolutely horrible. Farcical, and every other superlative. That is a flawed system,” one person wrote.
“The referee call was introduced to protect the integrity of the referee’s decision. That was clearly out and the decision should have been reversed. If not, the rules and interpretations need to be amended,” another added.
“The system is designed to protect the bad decisions of nuffy referees,” another commenter wrote.
Other fans raised a conspiracy theory, writing that the decision was made to prevent offside by the powerful Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), with one writing ‘This call to you by @BCCI’ and others echoing the comment.
Channel Seven and Fox Sports commentators were shocked by the decision, with Australian great Adam Gilchrist saying: ‘That’s the ultimate tease. You hear the noise, the disturbance of the stumps, and yet it doesn’t go away.’
Even Indian legend Ravi Shastri said: ‘You can tell he’s not happy, Mitchell Starc, and he has good reasons for that.’
With the five-Test series tied at 1-1, India only needs to draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for a record-extending fifth straight.
India openers Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma saw off the first 16 overs cautiously until Cummins produced six magical balls.
The captain removed his opposition skipper Rohit with a ball that was juggled and caught by Mitch Marsh.
Five balls later, in-form No. 3 KL Rahul fell victim to Cummins for a duck, boosting Australia’s hopes of taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
Mitchell Starc was already in an impressive position, removing experienced superstar Virat Kohli (five), who was again caught behind the wicket.
Tweets like this appeared all over social media platform X after the highly controversial decision prevented the hosts from taking a crucial wicket
Some fans spread a conspiracy theory that the wicket was not given to avoid offending India’s powerful Board of Control of Cricket.
Jaiswal is pictured saluting the crowd after rubbing salt in Australia’s wounds by recording a very timely half-century on Monday
Starc, Cummins and Scott Boland all bowled regular deliveries that beat the outside edge on a pitch that plays more tricks than expected.
Australia added just six more runs on Monday after being bowled out for 234 in the second over of day five, giving them a lead of 339.
Nathan Lyon (41) and Scott Boland (15 not out), Australia’s numbers 10 and 11, made 61 in a crucial last wicket stand that shot the lead past 300 and frustrated India.
A huge crowd of more than 50,000 is packed into the MCG for what could be a defining day for this generation of Australian players.
A total of 350,700 fans have already attended this Boxing Day Test, breaking the all-time MCG record of 350,534 set in the 1936-37 Ashes series when Sir Don Bradman was king.
The greatest successful Test run chase on the ground took place almost a century ago, when England defeated Australia 7-332 in 1928.
If India win, it will be their third highest successful Test run chase.
It would even beat the 7-329 they posted to win the Fourth Test at the Gabba in 2021 and claim the series.
Australia’s recovery from a shaky 6-91 late on Sunday – also helped by Cummins’ 41 – was the latest twist in an epic Test full of momentum swings.
Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 5-57, which gave him nine wickets for the Test and took him to 30 for the series.
Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who played in the 2021 defeat, said Brisbane’s wicket was a long way from the MCG pitch.
Just as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar turned India’s fortunes around on Saturday with their epic eighth-wicket stand, Reddy believes a good partnership on Monday will set India up for victory.
Starc noted that the enthralling match was the perfect counterpoint to any comments that the tests should be shortened to four days.
“This is why we have five days for a Test match and we really hold onto those who want four days,” he told ABC Radio.