Another controversial decision during the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia created a huge furore, this time involving star batter Steve Smith. The incident that took place was a disputed run-out call in the 78th over when Smith hit the ball to midwicket and attempted a two-run play.
As Smith scrambled back to the crease, it seemed that he had not made it in time as English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow knocked off the bails after a fierce throw from substitute fielder George Ealham.
The on-field umpires referred the decision to third umpire Nitin Menon. Initially, replays suggested that Bairstow had dislodged the bails before catching the ball, and Smith appeared to be short of his crease. However, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that when the bails were fully dislodged from the stumps, Smith had already made it back into the crease.
With the help of replay footage, umpire Nitin Menon ruled Smith as not out, a decision that drew disapproval from the English spectators.
However, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) supported Menon's decision, citing, “Law 29.1 states that a wicket is considered broken when at least one bail is fully removed from the stumps or one or more stumps are removed from the ground.”
The MCC's Official Interpretation of the Laws of Cricket in Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, also states that, “In terms of dismissal, a bail is considered removed at the moment both ends leave their grooves.”
In the game, England's Stuart Broad dismissed Usman Khawaja after a determined 47-run stand and also took out Travis Head. James Anderson bowled out Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root dismissed Alex Carey, and Mark Wood ousted Mitchell Starc, boosting England's chances of balancing the series.
Starting the day at 61-1, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne played cautiously in the morning, adding only 21 runs in the first 12 overs. Labuschagne was brilliantly caught by Root at first slip off a delivery from Wood, scoring nine runs.
England, who were dismissed for 283 on the first day, tried to keep their fast bowlers fresh under cloudy conditions but struggled to break the partnership until Wood's delivery found its mark. Labuschagne's edge sailed between wicketkeeper Bairstow and Root, with Root diving to his left to secure a stunning one-handed catch.
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