Shocking blunders: Five times when the third umpire gave a wrong decision
The third umpire plays a crucial role in every cricket match. It was in 1996, that the concept of the third umpire came into existence. And in the course of 25 years and with the availability of technology, the third umpire has turned out to be extremely pivotal for any match. Unlike the field umpires, the third umpire has all the aid in making the correct decision so there should be no excuse for him to make any mistakes.
But then in recent times, we have witnessed the third umpire making unwise decisions. Let us take a look at five wrong decisions made by the third umpire.
5. Usman Khawaja adjudged caught behind (2013)
In the year 2013, England and Australia locked horns in the third Test of the Ashes series. Khawaja was batting on 1, with Australia comfortably placed at 82/1. Off the 19th ball he faced, Graeme Swann delivered a ball that pitched on off stump and turned sharply. Khawaja went for the drive, the ball missed his bat, Matt Prior collected the ball behind the stumps and the England players went for the appeal.
After the on-field umpire raised his finger, Khawaja immediately went for the review. Even though replays confirmed that the bat was nowhere even close to the ball, the third umpire declared Khawaja out. The commentators were dumbfounded by the decision.
4. Andrew Symonds survives a stumping (2008)
The Sydney Test is one that will forever be remembered as a blot in the sport, as far as umpiring decisions are concerned. Blunders after blunders were made by both the on-field umpires, Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson, and the match also came into the limelight for the infamous Monkey Gate incident involving Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh.
In the 56th over of Australia’s first innings, the third umpire made a blunder too. Symonds misread a delivery from Anil Kumble, was beaten and MS Dhoni as usual took off the bails at his usual lightning speed. The decision was referred to the third umpire. In spite of conclusive evidence that Symonds’ foot was still not grounded by the time the bails were taken off, the third umpire ruled the decision in favour of the batsman. Symonds scored an unbeaten 162 in Australia’s first innings, and the hosts went on to win the Test match by 122 runs.
3. Ben Stokes given out obstructing the field (2015)
This incident took place at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground. Arch-rivals England and Australia locked horns with each other, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electric. Australia batted first and posted a challenging total of 309 runs on the board. In reply, England were placed at 141/3 after 25.3 overs when the incident occurred.
Mitchell Starc bowled an in-swinging delivery to Ben Stokes, and the left-hander hit it back to the bowler. Starc threw the ball straight back at Stokes. The batsman stopped the ball with his hand to prevent himself from getting hurt. The Australian fielders appealed, and the decision was referred to the third umpire. To everyone’s surprise, the third umpire Joel Wilson decided to give the decision in favour of the Aussies, and Stokes was out obstructing the wicket. The crowd let their displeasure known by booing the Aussies. In the end, Australia won the match by 64 runs.
2. Ajinkya Rahane gets a feather, third umpire fails to notice it (2021)
This incident took place just recently, on the first day of the second Test between India and England at Chennai. Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma piled on the misery on the visitors and put on a 162-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Third Umpire didn’t check the ball fully!
Rahane survives !!! He gloved it ! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/syzjprYCTn— Arpan (@ThatCricketHead) February 13, 2021
However, off the second ball of the 75th over, there was a bit of drama that ensued on the field. Jack Leach bowled a delivery outside leg stump, and Rahane tried to flick the cherry towards mid-wicket. The ball hit Rahane’s pad and brushed his glove on its way to the short leg fielder.
However, the third umpire stopped the footage right at the point where the ball hit Rahane’s pad and ruled that Rahane was not out. If he had rolled the footage further, the feather on the glove could have been clearly visible to him. This was clearly an error on the part of the third umpire. As far as the match is concerned, India thrashed their opposition by 317 runs in the second Test.
1. Rohit Sharma stumping incident (2021)
Rohit Sharma has batted on another level today but how the hell does he survive that? What was the third umpire looking at?☝? #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/pycnGqhQx7
— Sam Landsberger ? (@SamLandsberger) February 13, 2021
This was another incident that took place in the second Test match between India and England at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai in February 2021. In the 71st over of the innings, Jack Leach bowled a delivery that pitched on off stump and turned away. Rohit Sharma lunged forward but was beaten completely, and Ben Foakes whipped the bails off in a flash. When the decision was referred to the third umpire, it looked as if there was no part of Rohit’s foot behind the line. But still, Rohit was declared not out. Rohit was batting on 159 at that time. However, this decision did not prove to be too costly as he was dismissed two overs later.
