Ashes 2017: Australian captain Steve Smith has catch denied on umpire’s review

FOR the first half of the day the WACA pitch was the most talked about turf in Perth, that was until the focus turned to whether there was a blade of grass in between Steve Smith’s fingertips.

Steve Smith was sure he had caught Moeen Ali fairly.

FOR the first half of the day the WACA pitch was the most talked about turf in Perth, that was until the focus turned to whether there was a blade of grass in between Steve Smith’s fingertips.

On a hugely controversial farewell day to the iconic WACA, the Australian captain was left fuming when umpires refused to go with his on-field claims that he had got his fingers neatly underneath a Moeen Ali edge off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

Umpire Marais Erasmus gave a soft on-field ruling of ‘not out’, which meant third umpire Aleem Dar decided there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field ruling.

Former champion Australian slip-fielders Shane Warne and Mark Taylor were both convinced Smith had taken a fair catch, but agreed that Dar was virtually powerless to go back on Erasmus’s on-field signal.

Steve Smith was sure he had caught Moeen Ali fairly.

Slow-mo, close-up replays appeared to show Smith’s fingers under the ball, however, it wasn’t conclusive whether nor not the ball had kissed a bit of grass on the way into his palms.

Taylor believes the ensuing bobble up off Smith’s hands before he took the catch also played on the Umpire’s mind that perhaps the ball had bounced off the turf.

Moeen stood his ground at the crease and was given a reprieve on just 4.

The England left-hander only ended up making 11, but his 56-ball stay had started to become an issue for Australia, especially after David Warner had missed running him out by the barest of margins as the old enemy fought to save the game.

Warne said Moeen should have been given out.

“He’s got them (fingers) under the ball for me,” said Warne on Channel Nine.

“Steve Smith knows if you jam your fingers (under it).

“Smith is not happy.

Steve Smith (centre) and the Australian team wait for the result of the umpire’s review.

“Everyone watching knows it’s out, the player knows it’s out, but is there enough evidence to overturn?

“We know because we’re slippers.”

Taylor said: “I understand Aleem Dar giving it not out, but in reality I reckon it’s out.”

Smith was wringing his fingers in agony after taking the catch, further evidence that perhaps the skipper took the catch.

However, there was confidence amongst other ex-players that some portion of the ball had hit the turf.

Originally published as Ashes 2017: Australian captain Steve Smith has catch denied on umpire’s review