Aaron Finch scolded for ‘huge strategic error’ in not reviewing second innings dismissal

Aaron Finch left a nation stunned — and a run chase in tatters — when he was dismissed in controversial fashion in the first Test against India in Adelaide on Sunday.

Aaron Finch walks off the field after being controversially dismissed. Picture: Getty

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Having moved heaven and earth to block cricket’s DRS revolution — India was saved by the controversial technology then Aaron Finch’s act of harakiri in Adelaide.

Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon (6-122) had three wickets adjudged by umpire Nigel Llong overturned through the controversial Decision Review System on days three and four.

Australia was then rocked by the loss of opener Finch (11) before tea on the fourth day as they pursued a record 323-run chase for victory.

Aaron Finch was dismissed despite there not appearing to be any contact with the glove on HotSpot or snicko. Picture: Supplied

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Finch’s decision not to review Llong’s caught behind decision to India keeper Rishabh Pant off Ravi Ashwin backfired in sensational fashion. Replays appeared to show Finch’s glove did not make contact with the ball with Llong facing a fourth overturned verdict.

Finch, as one of two right-handers with Peter Handscomb, had to review the decision and not rely on debutant Marcus Harris for advice said former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe.

“It’s a huge strategic error. He’s a key, he’s the right-hander against Ashwin, Handscomb’s the other,” O’Keefe said on Fox Cricket.

“He’ll own the left-handers Ravi Ashwin. Finch was absolutely pivotal if Australia was to drive towards this 300, he had to be there, even if he had burnt the review I wouldn’t have cared But to accept a wrong decision, it’s just the height of naivety.

“I cannot believe it from an Australian point of view. He obviously heard something, but it was pad roll. He might have thought it slightly kissed my glove, but the replays would have cleared him.”

Aaron Finch walks off the field after being controversially dismissed. Picture: Getty

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A triumvirate of decisions by Llong were reversed as all the grey areas and mystery regarding the use and implementation of the technology were on show.

Chesteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane India added 113 runs following escapes afforded by DRS.

Rahane added 53 runs and became just the third batsman to pass 50 for the match after given a DRS reprieve in the 74th over of India’s second innings 307.

Llong gave Rahane out bat pad on 17 having attempted to push away a Lyon delivery that spat off the surface, glanced his thigh pad and chest on the way to Finch at short leg. The ball was adjudged not to have hit Rahane’s gloves by DRS – the kind of howler it was devised to address.

Umpire Nigel Llong has endured a tough Test. Picture: AAP

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Puraja made 71 to back a first innings 123. However the Indian No.3 was twice given out on Saturday by Llong. Pujara was adjudged caught behind on 8 before HotSpot technology showed no contact with bat or gloves.

Pujara was fortunate to remain when trapped in front on 17 having not offered a shot to a ball from Lyon. DRS tracking indicated the ball was bouncing over the bails but former Australian coach Darren Lehmann said Llong’s original decision was valid.

Indian maestro Tendulkar was a key centre of India’s resistance to using DRS from 2008 to 2016 with misgivings about the ball tracking technology and predictive path towards the stumps used to decide lbw decisions.

However cameras with a higher frame rate and capacity to accurately determine the point of impact on the pad convinced India to trial DRS against England two years ago.

Aaron Finch is caught by Rishabh Pant - but did he hit it? Picture: Getty

In a match where everyone run counts, India can thank its lucky stars for DRS.

Finch looked to have enjoyed a career saving reprieve in Australia’s second innings, not through the DRS but an Ishant Sharma no-ball.

Finch was hit on the pads from the second ball he faced. Ishant’s hooping inswinger appeared to be veering down leg-side but the Australian opener was given out by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Replays showed the ball clipping leg stump bail and the decision would have been upheld on umpire’s call if not for Ishant’s overstep.

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Originally published as Aaron Finch scolded for ‘huge strategic error’ in not reviewing second innings dismissal