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England opener Zak Crawley’s dismissal in the run chase in the Visakhapatnam Test stirred up controversy. England captain Ben Stokes felt that Crawley became a victim of technology getting it wrong. A few days after England’s 106-run defeat in the second Test, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has come in support of Stokes backing his statement.
What Stokes said
"My personal opinion is that the technology has gone wrong on this occasion. That's where I stand on it," Stokes said after the match.
“Technology in the game is obviously there and everyone has an understanding of the reasons it can never be 100 per cent. That's why we have the 'umpire's call', that's why it's in place.”
"So when it's not 100 per cent, I don't think it's unfair for someone to say 'I think the technology has got it wrong'. I will say that, but in a game full of ifs, buts and maybes I am not going to say that's the reason why we haven't got the result we wanted."
De Villiers faults cameras for dodgy call
De Villiers feels that Kuldeep Yadav's delivery was turning away from the stumps. At best, it would have clipped the leg stump which would have meant that the umpire's call should have stayed.
"I am looking at it now and I feel it is not hitting the leg stump (Crawley LBW). It might just clip or touch the outer part of the leg stump, which ultimately would be the umpire's call. Technology has made decisions more accurate, but they need to make sure that the cameras are right in line with the middle stump at both ends and not at an angle. Ben Stokes was a little bit upset and rightfully so," De Villiers opined on his YouTube channel.
Crawley was dismissed for 73. He was the fifth wicket to fall in the run chase.
After the defeat in the Visakhapatnam Test, England flew back to Dubai where they had a preparatory camp before the series. The England team will return to India ahead of the third Test which will begin on February 15 at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot.
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