Cricket ‘disgrace’ baffles fans and floors Australian team

An Australian review for LBW on the final day of the Boxing Day Test has sent the cricket world into a wild spin.

Mitch Starc sent a thunderbolt into the pads Yasashvi Jaiswal and the Aussies thought they had the key wicket of the young Indian star.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Controversial DRS decision explained.

Jaiswal was given not out by the on-field umpire but captain Pat Cummins called for a review and the Australians were then staggered by what unfolded.

The vision showed the ball was clearly hitting top of the bail but under the rules it was not enough evidence to have the umpire’s decision reversed.

“Close is not close enough,” said star commentator Alison Mitchell.

And Damien Fleming was perplexed.

“The ball was hitting,” the cricket great said.

“Surely it’s out. Let’s get rid of this 50 per cent of the ball hitting. It looked good live, but that doesn’t always give us a good indication of the trajectory of the ball.”

While Australia didn’t lose a review in the process, the decision baffled fans and Starc could not quite believe it as he trudged away after the over.

Legendary cricket umpire Simon Taufel explained the rule on Seven.

“We have certainly got 50 per cent of the ball inside the line of the outside of leg stump,” Taufel said.

“What we don’t have is 50 per cent of the ball below the top of the stump.

“And I think that’s where the issue has been with the predictive path and hitting inside the zone.

“So, on this particular occasion, it’s the 50 per cent of the ball that’s not below the height of the top of the stump. So, I can certainly understand why the Australians would feel aggrieved, but they’re the rules and that’s to say as determined by the ICC.”

Taufel was asked whether the bail was included.

“(It’s) the top of the stump ... Yeah, the top of the stump, not the bail itself, but the top of the stump,” he said.

Mitchell said it was a “curious” part of the DRS because “in real-life the bails are part of the wicket and if the bail is dislodged that would be out”.

Taufel said the bail was not included because of its odd shape.

“It’s simply because the bail is not really a square or rectangle-defined area,” he said.

“It’s a bit of an up-and-down and hills and over and top of the bail ... and the spigot (the side part) as well.

“As technology continues to improve and the accuracy continues to get better, that hitting zone gets a bit bigger.”

MATCH CENTRE: All the stats from the Boxing Day Test

Mitchell said: “I wonder how Mitchell Starc would take to the explanation.”

As for the fans, they were less than impressed.

“I found the explanation that the bails don’t form part of the wicket when it comes to the 50 per cent rule baffling,” one fan said.

“Surely the bails forms part of the wicket? If the ball hits the bail only & dislodges it (without touching the stump) it’s still out.”

“That’s a disgrace lads,” another said.

And another: “Insanely bad decision.”

And another: “That is just bad by both the technology and the on-field ump.”

And another: “Top of off blown apart but umpires call. What a disgrace.”