Another DRS debacle reared its ugly head on day three of the first Test against the West Indies
It was nothing short of a disaster for the Windies, who were completely outplayed in every facet of the game.
Here are all the talking points from day three.
THE ‘RIDICULOUS’ DECISION
That’s just out. Source:FOX SPORTS
IT didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but the fact remains that another embarrassing umpiring decision has cast doubt on the credibility of the Decision Review System (DRS).
Bowling to West Indian opener Kraigg Brathwaite, Peter Siddle struck the right-hander on the pad with a ball that angled back into him. Umpire Marais Erasmus rejected the vociferous appeal and Steve Smith challenged the decision without hesitation.
It looked like the right call when ball tracking technology Hawkeye showed the Kookaburra to be cannoning into the top of leg stump. But remarkably, the verdict on whether it was hitting the stumps came back as “umpire’s call” and Brathwaite survived.
In real time and in slow motion replays, it just looked out. That, combined with the fact the ball was shown to be crashing into the top of the stumps, left players, commentators and no doubt fans stunned as to how a not-out decision was reached.
Commentating on Channel 9, Shane Warne labelled the decision as “ridiculous”.
“They’ve got to have a look at that,” Warne said.
“That’s smashed into the stumps.”
On ABC Grandstand, former Victorian quick Dirk Nannes was unimpressed both with the decision and the rule.
“It just has to be out,” Nannes said.
“It’s the rules that govern the interpretation of whether it’s out or not that are incorrect in this one. It was going to smash leg stump.
“I thought the initial decision was incorrect. Live I thought, ‘That’s out.’
“If you look at the image, you look at the frame of where that ball was going to hit, you can’t help but shake your head.”
Even if Hawkeye shows a ball to be hitting the stumps, a not-out decision is still able to be maintained according to the current rules. More than half the ball needs to be hitting the stumps for a not-out LBW call to be overturned.
It’s another embarrassing gaffe for the sport, following on from a decision by third umpire Nigel Llong to give Nathan Lyon a reprieve in the third Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.
Llong gave Lyon not-out after an appeal for a catch, despite Hot-Spot showing a clear white mark on the edge of Lyon’s bat as he attempted a sweep shot. The offie was even walking off the field after seeing the replay, so sure was he of being sent on his way, but the Kiwis were left fuming when he was allowed to bat on.
There no doubt needs to be a review into how the technology is used if incorrect decisions are continually going to be upheld.
JAMES PATTINSON IS BACK
He’s back, baby.
JAMES Pattinson claimed his first five wicket haul since Australia’s tour of India in February, 2013, when he had West Indian captain Jason Holder caught down the leg side.
That gave Pattinson figures of 5/19 from just six overs against the Windies — his best ever figures in Test cricket — and he finished with 5/27 from eight overs.
His barnstorming performance on day three vindicated the selectors’ decision to play him ahead of WA speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile.
He claimed his first Test scalp since March 2014 when he got an edge to fly straight to Steve Smith at second slip.
He removed Rajendra Chandrika for a duck in his first over of the second innings after the opening batsman attempted to defend a ball just outside off stump.
It was the perfect response for the Victorian quick after he finished the first innings with 0/68.
He struck again four overs later when he removed danger man Darren Bravo with a sweet pitched-up delivery.
Pattinson knocked over the first innings century maker when he got the Kookaburra to crash into middle stump after sliding between Bravo’s bat and pad.
It left the West Indies at 2/20.
He claimed his third scalp moments later when he surprised Marlon Samuels with some extra bounce.
Samuels tried to defend the ball on his back foot but failed to judge the bounce. The ball thumped off the shoulder of his bat and straight to David Warner at gully.
Then he was on a hat-trick when he got a ball to skid low into off stump to send Jermaine Blackwood straight back to the pavilion.
Jason Holder is captaining a sinking ship
JUDGING by the West Indies’ performance in this Test, if you want to see any live action at all for the remainder of the series, you’re best to get your tickets for days one, two or three.
The lopsided contest many predicted prior to the match in Hobart panned out exactly as anticipated. It was men against boys as the Windies were only ever in the contest during the first session on day one, before being comprehensively outplayed for the rest of the match.
It’s hard to see how the visitors will be able to stretch out any of the remaining two games into their fourth and fifth days if they continue to play like they did at Blundstone Arena.
There was a belief New Zealand would have been better suited to playing those drawcard matches because the Windies would not be able to do them justice. Those fears look like being realised as a humiliating series defeat looms for the Caribbean side unless they can orchestrate a massive reversal in form.
THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOTS
Brathwaite can hold his head high
WHEN you lose by an innings and 212 runs, you won’t have much to smile about. But there are two West Indians who can hold their heads high even after this embarrassing thrashing.
Darren Bravo was the only batsman to offer any resistance at all in the first innings, posting his seventh career century to show he might finally be about to deliver on his enormous potential.
Likened to West Indian great Brian Lara since he arrived on the scene — in looks, batting style and talent — the 26-year-old averages just a tick over 40 after 40 Tests, a number that should be higher given how good he’s shown he can be.
He held his side’s first innings together with a well constructed 108, while in the second innings, Kraigg Brathwaite took up the challenge to keep the Aussie attack at bay.
Braithwaite, like Bravo in the first dig, was the last man out, carrying his bat for a respectable 94 off 122 balls after opening the innings.
With wickets tumbling all around him, the 23-year-old from Barbados showed a cool head and an impressive stroke range for a normally conservative batsman. He hit 13 fours and a six, opening his shoulders as the end drew near, showing he has the ability to pose a threat to the home side’s bowlers in the next two Tests.
The rest of Bravo and Brathwaite’s teammates need to follow their lead, and quickly, if they are to avoid further embarrassment.
Cricket Australia was criticised before the summer even started for scheduling the West Indies to play in the blockbuster Boxing Day Test and the New Year’s Test in Sydney — two of the biggest events on the calendar of Australian cricket.
CRICKET SCOREBOARD
1st Test Blundstone Arena
10 December 2015 1st Innings
| Australia | 4/583d | |
| West Indies | 223 | 148 |
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Warrican | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 300.00 |
| Bowler | O | MO | R | W | ECON |
| J. Hazlewood | 10.3 | 3 | 33 | 3 | 3.14 |
australia won by innings and 212 runs .
written by ~ CHARITHARDHA
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