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 with&nbsp;Simon Harmer holding onto a low catch. While the umpire Paul&nbsp;Reiffel sent the decision to the third umpire, his soft signal was out. After a lot of replays from the third umpire,&nbsp;Richard Kettleborough, from different angles, the decision was overruled with Labuschagne surviving eventually.&nbsp;

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:

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Caught at slip! Or maybe not... 
 
Marnus Labuschagne is not out on 70 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/OZ6N06fRZ6">pic.twitter.com/OZ6N06fRZ6</a>
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1610472412998696962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-australia-nz-have-sangakkara-hints-asian-giants-india-pakistan-sl-not-favourites-for-odi-wc-549446">'England, Australia, NZ have...': Sangakkara hints Asian giants India, Pakistan &amp; SL not favourites for ODI WC</a>

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.

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."

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 with Simon Harmer holding onto a low catch.

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 with Simon Harmer holding onto a low catch. While the umpire Paul Reiffel 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: Caught at slip! Or maybe not... Marnus Labuschagne is not out on 70 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/OZ6N06fRZ6 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2023 × Also read: 'England, Australia, NZ have...': Sangakkara hints Asian giants India, Pakistan & SL not favourites for ODI WC 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. 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."

Anrich Nortje reacts after Marnus Labuschagne adjudged not-out over controversial catch in Aus-SA Test

The debatable soft-signal has yet again gone under the scanner, with England seamer Stuart Broad requiring the rule to be discarded. The discussion in regards to the rule emitted after Devon Conway was apparently caught in the slips by Zak Crawley off the bowling of Stuart Broad on Day 2 of the second England-New Zealand Test.&nbsp;

Nonetheless, the on-field umpires gave the soft signal as not out and the third umpire didn't have convincing proof to topple the on-field decision. Devon Conway got relief from the get-go in his innings and proceeded to score 80 to place New Zealand in a decent position.&nbsp;

Prior to the beginning of the third day's play, Stuart Broad scrutinized the soft-signal rule on Sky Sports and said:&nbsp;

"(Whether the rule should be changed) I do, absolutely. When you calmly look at the pros and cons of the soft signal, the cons completely outweigh the pros. So to me, that looks as if it's a poor ruling."

Stuart Broad, notwithstanding, communicated compassion towards the onfield and third umpire and figured that it was the standard that was placing them in a spot of trouble.&nbsp;

"I feel for the umpires in this situation. It's not the umpires' fault that they're 40 yards away - potentially 60 yards in white-ball cricket - with maybe an obscured view. It's actually the ruling that's putting the umpires in a really difficult situation. It's having to get a soft signal" - he said.&nbsp;

"You're going upstairs because you're not sure whether it's carried or not. So then to have to give an opinion whether you think it has, puts the umpire in a really tricky position. Then the third umpire's hands are tied a little bit with whatever that on-field call is" - he added.

Stuart Broad is certain that the low catch asserted by Zak Crawley was perfect given the response from Joe Root and James Bracey, who were only a yard away from the incident.&nbsp;

"You can see from our reaction on the field that we thought it was out, Zak thought he had his fingers under the ball and you only have to look at Joe Root's reaction at first slip and James Bracey's reaction behind the stumps - who are a yard away from it - to know that that ball has carried" - he concluded.&nbsp;

The debatable soft-signal has yet again gone under the scanner, with England seamer Stuart Broad requiring the rule to be discarded. The discussion in regards to the rule emitted after Devon Conway was apparently caught in the slips by Zak Crawley off the bowling of Stuart Broad on Day 2 of the second England-New Zealand Test.

The debatable soft-signal has yet again gone under the scanner, with England seamer Stuart Broad requiring the rule to be discarded. The discussion in regards to the rule emitted after Devon Conway was apparently caught in the slips by Zak Crawley off the bowling of Stuart Broad on Day 2 of the second England-New Zealand Test. Nonetheless, the on-field umpires gave the soft signal as not out and the third umpire didn't have convincing proof to topple the on-field decision. Devon Conway got relief from the get-go in his innings and proceeded to score 80 to place New Zealand in a decent position. Prior to the beginning of the third day's play, Stuart Broad scrutinized the soft-signal rule on Sky Sports and said: "(Whether the rule should be changed) I do, absolutely. When you calmly look at the pros and cons of the soft signal, the cons completely outweigh the pros. So to me, that looks as if it's a poor ruling." Stuart Broad, notwithstanding, communicated compassion towards the onfield and third umpire and figured that it was the standard that was placing them in a spot of trouble. "I feel for the umpires in this situation. It's not the umpires' fault that they're 40 yards away - potentially 60 yards in white-ball cricket - with maybe an obscured view. It's actually the ruling that's putting the umpires in a really difficult situation. It's having to get a soft signal" - he said. "You're going upstairs because you're not sure whether it's carried or not. So then to have to give an opinion whether you think it has, puts the umpire in a really tricky position. Then the third umpire's hands are tied a little bit with whatever that on-field call is" - he added. Stuart Broad is certain that the low catch asserted by Zak Crawley was perfect given the response from Joe Root and James Bracey, who were only a yard away from the incident. "You can see from our reaction on the field that we thought it was out, Zak thought he had his fingers under the ball and you only have to look at Joe Root's reaction at first slip and James Bracey's reaction behind the stumps - who are a yard away from it - to know that that ball has carried" - he concluded.

Cricket: 'Let's just do away with it now': Stuart Broad wants soft signal rule to be discarded

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Anrich Nortje reacts after Marnus Labuschagne adjudged not-out over controversial catch in Aus-SA Test

Cricket: 'Let's just do away with it now': Stuart Broad wants soft signal rule to be discarded