Ashes 2010-11, 5th Test: Aussies left to rue umpiring decisions after another tough day in Ashes series
As England set their sights on a 3-1 Ashes win, the Australians have been left ruing umpiring decisions and their misfortune at various stages of the series which has simply not gone their way. Whatever they have
turned to has failed, especially in the last two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney, and the trend continued in another tough day at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.
The third day was marked by controversy: the two English centurions, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, each got away with a decision that could have gone the other way.
The first instance was when Cook, batting on 99, stood his ground as the ball appeared to have lodged in the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phillip-Hughes-c2185 at short leg. Replays showed that the ball had bounced just short of the fielder
and Cook was declared not out.
The other instance, perhaps more debatable, occurred when Ian Bell was on 67. He was adjudged caught behind by Aleem Dar, who paused briefly before making up his mind. Bell, however, asked the third umpire to
review the decision. The Hot Spot review didn't show a mark, despite numerous replays. As a result, third umpire Tony Hill overturned Dar’s ruling. However, only a few overs later, the matter took a new turn when Snickometer technology clearly showed an edge,
supporting Dar's original judgment.
Australian captain Michael Clarke tried to put on a brave face as he discussed the incident during the press conference at the end of the day.
“It's the same for both teams,” said Clarke about the technology used for umpiring decisions, “And I actually said that out there to Bell. I said I do think, especially, Hotspot is inconsistent, but it's the same
for both teams. I'm sure there's been plenty of cases when we've been batting and the same thing's happened, so it's just about accepting the decision and getting on with it.”
The local crowd booed Bell, who reached his first ever century against the Australians, a knock that capped off a brilliant run of form in the series for the batsman from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862 who has helped his team on
more than one occasion.
Clarke said he did not doubt the English player’s sincerity when he called for a referral, even though he believed it should have been out.
“I don't think Ian Bell is a cheat at all,” Clarke said. “We thought there was an inside edge, we appealed that, it was referred. Technology says with the result that Ian didn't hit the ball.”
“The technology is pretty good,” he added. “If Belly thought he had nicked it I can't see him standing because you would look foolish if you had nicked it and then you referred it. I don't think players are trying
to bluff technology. You could end up with egg on your face quite quickly if you tried to do that.”
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120’s defence of Bell came in addition to his defence of his own teammate, Hughes. English Test great Ian Botham, while commentating on Sky Sports, had termed Hughes’ appeal for Cook’s caught-behind “cheating.”
“That's a bit harsh,” Clarke said of Botham’s remark. "I can guarantee you one thing and that is Phillip Hughes is not a cheat, that's for sure, he is a wonderful young guy. The end result was spot-on, Hughesy
wasn't sure, Brad Haddin who saw the ball clearly wasn't sure, we made that quite clear to the umpires, the umpires referred the catch and I haven't seen the replay, but it must have come up quite clear that the ball bounced and the right result was made.”
While acknowledging that the technology used for umpiring decisions isn’t perfect, Clarke said he believed they should continue to be used. “Stats suggest that 94% of decisions are correct without it and 97% correct
with it,” he said. “Wrong decisions affect careers, so because the technology is there it would be unwise not to use it.”
At stumps on day three, England were on 488/7, leading by 208 runs in their first innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 have already played their first innings, managing a total of only 280 before being bowled out. If England win this match, they
will have won the series 3-1. England have already won the Ashes urn, by winning the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, because they were the defending champions this year.
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