- Sep 17, 2010
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Unsurprisingly lots about the umpire is crap and very little about Lyons incompetence in stuffing up a straight forward run out.
I have to say when I saw the ball live I immediately thought Not Out!!!. Going down legside.
And I've watched it about 20 times now, slowed it down to 1/4 speed, marked my screen with texta's but every time I rerun it at normal speed I still can't believe that the ball wasn't going to miss leg stump. Right arm around the wicket ball pitching in line with leg stump, understandable call in the situation.
Anyway - what everyone should be talking about is the absolute audacity and brilliance of Ben Stokes innings. 3 of 73 balls before the new ball was taken and finishes the test off with 135 off 218 balls - including 75 of the last wicket stand of 76 - absolutely staggering innings.
That reverse sweep of Lyon and the ramp shot were absolutely incredible - the innings was the perfect blend test stoicism and one day bravado.
All the bolded says is that you are added to the list of people that 100% shouldn't be umpiring cricket at international level - a list with Joel Wilson at the very top of it.
Not sure how you could miss the ball straightening. It was full too, so height was instantly a non-issue for an umpire - completely out of the equation. To a lefty so no issue with pitching outside leg and with the turn, not the usual problem the right-armer has to a lefty of going down leg more often than not. Was plum on first watch and got more and more plum every time for me.
The best umpires were the likes of the old English bloke David Shepherd. I used to love watching him umpire Warnie. He was old but never missed seeing when the ball had straightened off a spinner: he'd give batsmen out without hesitation. He'd be turning in his grave after that horrible decision by Wilson.