Ben Stokes urges ICC to SCRAP ‘soft signal’ system after Marnus Labuschagne controversy

Ben Stokes has weighed in on the controversial umpiring decision that gave Marnus Labuschagne a lifeline in Sydney, insisting that the ICC should abandon the use of “soft signals” in cricket.

Labuschagne looked relentless after lunch at the SCG on Wednesday, punishing Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj on his way to 70.

But the Proteas seemed to have the breakthrough they were looking for when Labuschagne overcame a delivery from Marco Jansen to Harmer, who took a low hold on the slips.

However, Labuschagne refused to relent and umpire Paul Reiffel gave the soft signal for out as he sent the catch up for review.

The third referee, Richard Kettleborough, looked at several replays and was finally satisfied that there was enough evidence to overturn the soft signal, judging that Labuschagne was not out because the ball had touched the grass before Harmer caught it.

Recent changes to the ICC protocols make it easier for the third referee to override the soft signal.

Ben Stokes has asked the ICC to remove soft signals after a controversial call in Sydney

But the Proteas were furious at the decision, believing that Harmer picked up the ball fairly, and England captain Stokes was of the opinion that there should be a review of ‘soft signals’ in cricket.

‘ICC should get rid of [sic] the soft signal and let the third referee who has all the technology make the decision when the referees on the field send it up,’ he tweeted.

‘All the controversy is always around the soft signal given. This is not a comment on the FYI decision.’

Marnus Labuschagne was thrown out when Simon Harmer came up to catch a ball that went past

However, the third referee overturned the decision much to the frustration of Proteas.

After the stumps, Labuschagne said he believed the third referee made the correct call, adding that in another era, he would have answered Reiffel’s call on the chin.

“If there’s no TV (replays), then I’m walking,” he told reporters.

“But with the amount of slow-motion footage you see of the ball, you see his fingers push open.

‘According to the technicalities, part of the ball is touching the grass, regardless of whether your fingers are under it or not.

England captain Stokes believes the ICC should consider ditching the soft signals.

“It’s hard because back in the day or even before we had this technology or camera work, they’d just send you packing.”

After the third umpire rendered his decision, Proteas captain Dean Elgar protested to umpire Chris Gaffaney, clearly aware of the importance of the dangerous Labuschagne remaining in the middle at 1-130.

Ironically, Anrich Nortje pointed out that South Africa should use their DRS review in the third referee’s decision.

“If you look at the angles, it looks to us like there are fingers underneath,” Nortje said.

‘Unfortunately we didn’t get that one. I think he would have been a great one at that stage. We were convinced that he was out.

Labuschagne was eventually dismissed for 79 runs in Nortje’s bowling.