Anrich Nortje reacts after Marnus Labuschagne adjudged not-out over controversial catch in Aus-SA Test
Anrich Nortje reacts after Marnus Labuschagne adjudged not-out over controversial catch in Aus-SA SCG Test
A controversy erupted on the opening day of the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney. After opting to bat first, Australia was going strong at 130 for 1, in the second session, when Marnus Labuschagne (batting on 70) edged one, off Marco Jansen, and the ball went to the slip cordon withSimon Harmer holding onto a low catch. While the umpire PaulReiffel sent the decision to the third umpire, his soft signal was out. After a lot of replays from the third umpire,Richard Kettleborough, from different angles, the decision was overruled with Labuschagne surviving eventually.
The Dean Elgar-led South African side had started celebrating before the decision went upstairs and were shellshocked by the final call. While it looked like Hammer had done enough to catch the ball, some angles suggested that some part of the ball was touching the ground. Eventually, Labuschagne was given not-out, upsetting the Proteas. Here's the video of the controversial catch:
After the end of the day's play, with Australia 147 for 2, pacer Anrich Nortje gave his verdict with regard to the controversial catch. He said, "All of us thought it was out so I’m annoyed. I’m convinced it went straight in (to Harmer’s hands). I think when you look at the angles, to us, it looks like his fingers are underneath it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that one and I think it would have been a big one at that stage."
Many other cricketers joined in and shared their take with regard to the controversial catch. England's Test captain Ben Stokes tweeted, "ICC should get rid of the soft signal and let the 3rd umpire who has all the technology to make the decision when the on-field umpires send it upstairs, all the controversy is always around the soft signal given." India's former spinner Harbhajan Singh replied saying, "Absolutely waste of time (soft signals)what is the point giving a soft signal when you are referring it to the 3rd umpire anyways .. let the 3rd umpire give a decision." Even former SA captain Faf du Plessis felt that the final decision should've gone in favour of the bowling side as the soft signal was out.
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Labuschagne, nonetheless, eventually fell for 79 as Australia ended a rain-hit Day 1 at 147-2 with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 54. The batter also opened up on the catch and said, "Regardless of whether it's caught or not, with technology, there are so many ones that people are adamant they have caught - and Simon said 'I've caught that' - and in the old rules of catching it, because you felt like your fingers are under it, absolutely, but with the new footage those are so scrutinised because you see so many angles. Especially that side-on angle, makes it look really bad, then the front-on angle actually looks pretty good."