England head coach Chris Silverwood and skipper Joe Root have asked the match referee to get ‘consistency’ in the process by which the third umpire makes a decision in the ongoing third Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday (February 24). Both Root and Silverwood approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Javagal Srinath after the end of the opening day’s play after certain decisions that went the India’s way were made quickly according to the visitors.
Indian opener Shubman Gill was caught off Stuart Broad in the slips by Ben Stokes, but the third umpire decided that the all-rounder had grassed the catch. In another incident, a quick stumping by Ben Foakes didn’t result in a wicket as Rohit Sharma had grounded his foot at the right time. The visitors claim that both the decisions were rather made quickly without taking the help of other camera angles.
According to a report in leading cricket website, Root and Silverwood approached Srinath after stumps on Day One. “The England captain and head coach spoke with the match referee after play. The captain and head coach acknowledged the challenges the umpires faced and asked respectfully that in making any decisions there was consistency in the process. The match referee said the captain was asking the right questions of the umpires,” the website quoted an England team spokesperson as saying.
England batsman Zak Crawley also expressed frustration after several umpiring decisions didn’t go in favour of the visitors on the opening day. Crawley said that the English side needed that bit of luck as they are behind in the ongoing day-night Test.
The English opener wants his side to play better cricket on Thursday so that they don’t require the 50-50 things going in their way. “Yes, it was very frustrating as we were behind in the game and we needed that 50-50 to go our way. And it when in their way today. It is frustrating as we desperately want to win and it doesn’t help in our chances of winning. Hopefully, we play better tomorrow and don`t require that 50-50,” Crawley said, during the virtual press conference after the opening day’s play.
Ishant Sharma playing the 100th Test provided India with the first breakthrough and after the first wicket, the spinners took over the mantle from the pacer. R Ashwin and Axar Patel spun a web over visitors to bundled out them for 112 in the first innings. India ended the opening day of the pink-ball Test against England in the driver’s seat as Rohit hit fifty to take the hosts at 99/3. India is trailing by 13 runs in the first innings with seven wickets in the bag.
(with ANI inputs)
