England vs Australia, 5th Ashes Test: Watch – Steve Smith run-out decision sparks another controversy, Ashwin applauds umpire Nitin Menon’s call | Cricket News

Controversies refuse to die in the ongoing Ashes series, as the fifth and final Test at the Kennington Oval saw another such moment on day two, which led to divided opinions.

Sparks flew on Friday over another contentious decision, which saw former Australia captain Steve Smith being given not out by third umpire Nitin Menon on a run-out decision.
Smith’s attempt to steal a cheeky second run ended up in the Australian batter diving to beat substitute fielder George Ealham’s throw, as England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow removed the stumps in a flash and appealed for a run-out.

Smith walked halfway back to the pavilion after watching the replay on the big screen and the England players started celebrating amid loud cheers, but the video review suggested that bails came off the groove completely only after Smith’s bat had crossed the line (crease). The long video review, thus, ended up in umpire Menon ruling in favour of Smith and gave him not out.
It led to a widespread debate, with even India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tweeting and applauding umpire Menon “for making the right decision.”
“What’s with the Ashes and substitute fielders. Have to applaud Nitin Menon for making the right decision,” Ashwin said in his post on Twitter.

Meanwhile, England pacer Stuart Broad said that the benefit of doubt went Smith’s way.
“I don’t honestly know the rules,” Broad joked. “I think there was enough grey area to give that not out. What are the rules? Was it the right decision? It looked sort of benefit-of-the-doubt-type stuff. First angle I saw, I thought ‘out’ and the side angle looked like the bail was probably dislodged.”
Broad also revealed what umpire Kumar Dharmasena told him about the decision.
“Kumar said to me if it was zing bails, it would have been given out. I don’t really understand the reasoning why,” said Broad.

Cricket lawmakers Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) also gave a clarification on the rules.
“The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground,” the MCC said in a tweet.
“Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, MCC’s official interpretation of the laws of cricket, adds: ‘For the purposes of dismissal –- a bail has been removed at the moment that both ends of it leave their grooves’,” it added.

After surviving the run-out call on 44, Smith went on to make 71 before being dismissed by Chris Woakes.
Australia were bowled out for 295 at the end of the second day and are 12 runs ahead of England, who scored 283 in their first innings.