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The fifth test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy High drama was witnessed at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) due to a controversial decision involving the Australian cricketer Steve Smith and Indian batting master Virat Kohli sparked an intense debate.
Steve Smith’s catch and the third umpire’s verdict
Batting with India struggling at 17/2, Kohli beat a long ball from Scott Boland towards the second slip. Smith dove low to his right, appearing to catch the ball just above the grass before launching it toward Marnus Labuschagne at gully, who completed what seemed like a remarkable team effort.
Despite the jubilant celebrations from the Australian camp, Kohli stood his ground, prompting the on-field umpires to send the decision upstairs. After reviewing the images, the third referee joel wilson ruled that the ball had made contact with the ground before being thrown up, giving Kohli crucial breathing room. The decision left Smith visibly frustrated and he shook his head in disbelief.
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Smith reacts to the third referee’s call
During the lunch break, Smith spoke to Fox Sports and reaffirmed his belief in the legality of the capture. “100%. “I don’t deny it at all, 100%.” he said, insisting that his fingers were under the ball before it was thrown up. However, Smith accepted the decision with composure and added: “But the referee has made the decision. “We will move forward.”
Here is the video:
“100%. I can’t deny it at all.”
Steve Smith analyzes whether he put his hand under the ball at the most important moment of the morning. #AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/bqIy8iGIRm
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2025
Opinions divided among cricket experts
The decision has since polarized opinions among cricket experts and fans. Former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath described the capture as “50/50 call” but he thought he was looking outside. Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer echoed this sentiment, with Ponting stating: “I think his fingers are clearly under the ball.”
On the contrary, the former test referee Simon Taufel offered a nuanced perspective, explaining that under ICC guidelines, if any part of the ball touches the ground while under the defender’s control, it is generally not ruled out. “It’s not about intention; it’s about what the repetition shows.” Taufel elaborated.
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