Mitchell Johnson slams umpire review system
Australia’s fast bowler Mitchell Johnson lashed out on the umpire review system on the second day of the last Ashes Test in Sydney.
Johnson said that the crucial no-ball that was referred to the third umpire should have been called by on field umpire Billy Bowden rather being reviewed.
The debutante left-armer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949 was denied his first Test wicket on just his 14th delivery, as he thought to have caught England’s star batsman Alastair Cook who was on 45 runs at that time. The ball skied to Ben Hilfenhaus who was at deep
mid-on. Beer started celebrating with his team-mates but was cut off short as the umpire asked for the third umpire to check the suspected no ball.
As Cook remained on the crease, the replays showed that the young spinner had indeed overstepped. Cook then went on to remain unbeaten on 61 runs.
This was the second time that Australia was at the wrong end in the series. Johnson was denied Matt Prior’s wicket in the fourth Ashes Test at Melbourne. Prior had scored 5 runs at that time but went on to contribute 85 runs for his side.
“If the umpires know it’s a no-ball, they should call it, instead of waiting to call it,” Johnson frustratingly stated.
He said that they should not wait to rely on a referral as in Cook’s situation on the second day of the Sydney Test.
The leading Aussie pace-man said that he does not want to comment on the relatively new system itself, yet conceded that it becomes “frustrating” at times as the bowler just needs to get his foot behind the line.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently introduced the new method of checking for the umpires; however Johnson seemed rather flustered over the system.
He said that he felt bad for Beer who was donning his first baggy green saying that the umpire should have warned him for his earlier deliveries that might have been no-balls. Johnson explained that he along with team mate Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 looked the footmarks
and there were “few tight ones” that showed he might be over the mark.
“That’s where the review system isn’t so great. It’s pretty hard with the spinner,” Johnson stated before he went on to admit that his team needs to find answers for their costly no-ball antics.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 has a rather spotty history with the system when their injured captain, Ricky Ponting found himself in a referral row in the Melbourne Test. Ponting argued with umpire Aleem Dar when he rejected an appeal against Kevin Pietersen. As a result, England
won by an innings and 157 and also retained the Ashes trophy first time in twenty-four years on Australian soil.
Australia is now seeking to level the Ashes series in the last Test match as England are trailing by 113 runs with seven wickets remaining in their first innings.
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