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 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. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting came up with a bizarre assessment of the entire controversy. Ponting conceded that some part of the ball touched the ground but despite that, he believed that the right decision was made.
"When I saw it live, I knew it had carried to him on the full, but I wasn't sure what the action was after that from all replays we have seen," Ponting told the ICC.
"I actually think some part of the ball did touch the ground and it is the interpretation of the umpire that as long as the fielder has complete control of the ball before the ball hits the ground, then it is out.
"That must have been what the umpires' interpretation was and I think that is exactly what happened. It carried probably six or eight inches off the ground then there was another action after that," Ponting said.
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.
"There will be a lot of talk about it, I am sure, and there will probably be more talk in India than in Australia. Everyone in India will think it is not out and everyone in Australia will think it is out," Ponting continued.
"If it had been given out on the field then I think the third umpire has to find conclusive evidence to overturn that decision and I don't think there would have been conclusive evidence.
"The reason I am saying that is, even without the soft signal, the third umpire thought it was out. At the end of the day I think the correct decision has probably been made," Ponting added.
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