The Ashes cricket series witnessed a major controversy when Steve Smith faced a close call during a run-out decision. The drama unfolded on the internet, and fans were captivated by the tense moment. Third Umpire Nitin Menon carefully examined the replay before making a bold call to declare Steve Smith as “Not-out.” However, this decision didn’t sit well with the English crowds, leading them to boo the umpire.
During the 78th over, Smith played a shot to midwicket and attempted a quick double run. At first, it looked like Smith hadn’t made it in time as England’s wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow dislodged the bails. The decision was referred to the third umpire Nitin Menon, and from the initial replay, it appeared that Bairstow had removed the bails before collecting the ball while Smith was short of the crease. However, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that Smith had managed to ground his bat inside the crease before the bails were fully removed.
However, Marylebone Cricket Club concurred with Menon and stated, Law 29.1 states: “The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground.”
“Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, MCC’s Official Interpretation of the Laws of Cricket, adds: “For the purposes of dismissal – a bail has been removed at the moment that both ends of it leave their grooves,” it added.
In the match, Stuart Broad ended Usman Khawaja’s determined innings at 47 and dismissed Travis Head.
James Anderson bowled out Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root got Alex Carey, and Mark Wood dismissed Mitchell Starc, raising England’s hopes of leveling the series.
On the first day, England was bowled out for 283 runs in overcast conditions. The team rotated its fast bowlers but struggled to make a breakthrough until Wood’s crucial wicket.
Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne adopted a cautious approach in the morning, adding only 21 runs in the first 12 overs before Labuschagne was brilliantly caught by Root at first slip off Wood.
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, couldn’t rely on his main spinner, Moeen Ali, due to a groin injury sustained while batting.
