Glenn McGrath called the contentious decision to reject a key “catch” by Australia’s Mitchell Starc in the second Test match at Lord’s a “disgrace.” The decision was made by the umpires in the match.
It seemed as though England opener Ben Duckett had been run out for 50 when he miscued Cameron Green to fine leg, where Starc held a low catch, only to ground the ball while still sliding on the grass.
According to the rules of cricket, a catch is not considered successful until the fielder has “complete control over the ball and his or her own movement.” Before that point, the fielder is not allowed to touch the ground if a dismissal is to be successful.
The on-field umpires appealed the judgment to the television official, Marais Erasmus. The knowledgeable South African made the judgement in favor of Duckett, much to the chagrin of McGrath, who had a stellar career as an Australian fast bowler before retiring.
“I’m sorry, but that is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen,” McGrath stated while commentating for BBC Radio’s Test Match Special on Saturday.
“He (Starc) is in complete command of the situation. The situation with that ball is under control.
“I’ve experienced all there is to see in this game. If that does not count as a catch, then none of the previous catches that have ever been brought in should count either. That ought to bring shame on you.
But the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord’s and is responsible for defining the rules of cricket, argued that Erasmus had arrived at the right conclusion.
“Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has ‘complete control over the ball and his or her own movement,'” the MCC noted on its Twitter account. “A catch is only completed when the fielder has complete control over the ball and his or her own movement.”
It is impossible for the ball to make contact with the ground before that. Mitchell Starc was still sliding when the ball scraped the ground at this particular occurrence; as a result, he did not have control of his movement.
England finished the fourth day with a score of 114-4, with Duckett not out for 50, and they needed another 257 runs to accomplish their win goal of 371 in order to even the five-match series at 1-1. Duckett was not out.