Australia were left fuming as Stuart Broad enjoyed a massive slice of luck on the third day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
Broad, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, had made 37, with England then 297 for seven in their second innings, when he edged teenage debutant spinner Ashton Agar.
The ball clipped wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s gloves and then flew to Australia captain Michael Clarke at first slip yesterday.
Australia appealed for the catch, but leading Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar ruled in the batsman’s favour as Broad stood his ground.
The tourists couldn’t believe the verdict, but had to accept it as they’d already used up their two permitted reviews in the innings.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s anger on the dressing room balcony was clearly visible after television replays showed Broad had got a thick edge.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who played alongside Lehmann at Yorkshire, sympathised with Australia.
“The review system was brought in to get rid of the howler, I don’t see why umpire Dar couldn’t have had someone in his ear saying you’ve got that one wrong, let’s just overturn that quickly,” said Vaughan, now working as a commentator for BBC Radio’s Test Match Special.
“This has been a terrific game but I think a lot will be talked about that incident, which is sad.”
Earlier on Friday, Australia ran out of reviews when they decided to challenge a not out verdict following James Pattinson’s hugely optimistic lbw appeal against Jonny Bairstow, which replays showed was missing leg stump. `
‘Walking’, the practice whereby batsmen give themselves out without waiting for the umpire’s decision, was once a long-established tradition in English county cricket, and ’non-walkers’ were considered unsporting.
However, the custom in Australian cricket, from even as far back as batting great Don Bradman’s time, has been to wait for the umpire’s verdict.
Despite former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket in 2008, being a noted ‘walker’, few other modern players have copied his lead, particularly now that decisions can be challenged by recourse to technology.
England themselves had been angered Thursday by third umpire Marais Erasmus after the South African gave Jonathan Trott out lbw when the hosts were convinced the batsman had hit the ball and denied them the wicket of Ashton Agar, on six, when they thought the 19-year-old debutant had been stumped.
Agar went on to make 98 — the highest score by a No 11 in a Test match.
England pacer James Anderson, speaking after the end of play on Thursday, said Trott’s dismissal was “very frustrating”.
Meanwhile former England captain turned Sky Sports commentator Bob Willis said Trott’s exit was a “staggeringly bad” decision, while the Agar call was “shocking”.
