The Day 4 of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final provided pulsating action but it was also marred with controversy. Indian opener Shubman Gill got off to a good start as India started their run chase of 444 in the second session of with positive intent. Gill (18) was timing the ball well but Scott Boland forced an outside edge off his bat that was caught by Cameron Green who was standing at the gully. The on-field umpires referred it upstairs and third umpire Richard Kettleborough took his time and gave him out despite the ball touching the ground from various angles.
The controversial dismissal sparked a major outrage on social media as fans, former cricketers and Gill himself were left distraught by the poor piece of umpiring. India pacer Mohammed Shami was also gutted by the controversial decision and said that during a match of this magnitude, the umpire should have taken more time and zoomed in from every angle possible before making up his mind.
"Yes, one could have taken some time, it's the World Test Championship final, not a normal match that you let go. It should have been checked better, zoomed in, but it is okay, it is part of the game," Shami was quoted as saying.
"Nothing much. This is part of the game. The umpires take a call. So, it is part of the game. We don't think too much. Let's see tomorrow what happens," he added.
After a brisk knock of 43 runs from captain Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Rahane took India's innings forward by playing positive cricket. Kohli remained unbeaten on 44 runs while Rahane picked up from where he left in the first innings and scored 20 not out before the stumps of Day 4. India ended Day 4 on 164/3, leaving 280 runs for Day 5.
Here's what the ICC rulebook says -
33.2.1 A catch will be fair only if, in every case either the ball, at any time or any fielder in contact with the ball, is not grounded beyond the boundary before the catch is completed.
33.2.2 Furthermore, a catch will be fair if any of the following conditions applies:
33.2.2.1 The ball is held in the hand or hands of a fielder, even if the hand holding the ball is touching the ground, or is hugged to the body, or lodges in the external protective equipment worn by a fielder, or lodges accidentally in a fielder’s clothing."
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
'100 per cent...we will win the match: Team India pacer confident of WTC final triumph on Day 5
'See the two fingers underneath': Ravi Shastri backs Cameron Green's catch, believes Third Umpire decision was correct
