Australian captain Pat Cummins says there “must be small changes we can make” for TV umpires to adjudicate catches taken close to the turf after a trio of contentious calls during the third Test between the Aussies and Proteas.
Aussie superstar Steve Smith was central to two of the decisions, with both his catch off a Dean Elgar edge on day four and his take off a Heinrich Klaasen snick in the match’s final session deemed not out according to TV umpire Richard Kettleborough – despite the on-field umpire’s ‘soft signal’ being out on both occasions.
The same process played out on the opening day against the Proteas, who thought they’d dismissed Australian star Marnus Labuschagne caught at slip before Kettleborough overruled the on-field umpire’s soft signal of out on Simon Harmer’s catch.
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As per ICC rules, the soft signal on a close-call catch will stand if the third umpire believes “the replay evidence is inconclusive”. However players and commentators believed there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence on at least two of the catches – Harmer’s on the opening day and Smith’s second take on the final day – to overrule the on-field umpire’s decision.
“I think the three catches in this game were all out to be honest,” Aussie great Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket.
Smith told Fox Cricket post-game he could understand why his day-four take off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling was overturned, but was left stunned on the fifth day when his slips catch off a Nathan Lyon delivery wasn’t given out.
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“I can understand the one the other day – the one I scooped up with the one hand – that may have potentially touched the ground. But I thought (Sunday’s) one, I was pretty certain I caught it,” Smith told Fox Cricket before diplomatically adding: “But deemed the other way, so that happens as well. Can’t do much about it, it’s the umpire’s call so you move on.”
Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the SCG Test, Cummins said he had empathy for the umpires in those tough catch situations, but suggested tweaks must be made in some capacity.
“I don’t really know the answers, but there has to be a way to try and improve it somehow,” Cummins said.
“As it currently stands, it’s really hard to give a batter out. If there’s any benefit of the doubt, it goes the batter’s way. I think with a couple of camera angles really slowed down, it’s pretty hard to not find doubt somewhere.
“I do feel a bit for ‘Ketts’ up there. I don’t know the answer but surely there must be small changes we can make to try and get more definitive answers on there.
“There’s 30 or 40 cameras here … the third umpire sometimes only has a couple of angles available. Maybe there’s more camera angles we can use down the track, but money to be made for someone with a good idea.”
Chasing quick wickets on Sunday, both Smith and Lyon thought Klaasen had been removed after Smith claimed a low catch at first slip. But in a moment of deja vu, the decision was sent upstairs to the third umpire, who handed down a not out verdict after consulting the footage for several minutes.
Asked whether the right call was made, former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket: “I’d have to say no, which is sad, isn’t it? With all the forensic technology to stop this thing from happening, the wrong decisions are still being made.”
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But South African captain Dean Elgar described the umpires’ handling of the close calls as “brilliant”.
“I think once you’ve set the bar with the first one, you can’t really budge much from there,” Elgar said.
“I mean very rarely you get three catches like that in a Test, so they were really put under the pump a lot with regards to decision-making and I think they handled it pretty well.
“Those things are always going to be a grey area. Some guys will say out, some guys will say not out.
“At the end of the day, their (the umpires’) decision is final and as players you respect that.”
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Australia now turns its attention to a Test series against India, which has only lost one of its past 30 home series and just two Tests in its past 15 series – one of them against Australia.
Cummins said his team, which has won 10 of its past 15 Tests, was in good shape for the India series after home series wins over the West Indies and South Africa this summer.
“I’m really happy with the way everyone is travelling,” Cummins said.
“Our next big test is India in a few weeks. I feel good about that.
“We’ve got 10 big Test matches coming up this year with India, the Ashes in England and hopefully the World Test Championship final.”
– with AFP
