Australia v New Zealand: DRS controversy over Tom Blundell v Pat Cummins non-dismissal

The SCG Test was left shrouded in controversy late on day two, with Australia convinced they were dudded by a DRS call – with the third umpire accused of rushing his decision by Test great Ricky Ponting.

(L-R) Australia's Matthew Wade, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Joe Burms watch the scoreboard for a DRS review during the second day of the third cricket Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on January 4, 2020. (Photo by JEREMY NG / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

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Cricket’s man versus machine debate has blown up again with Australia convinced it should have had a last-session wicket.

New Zealand opener Tom Blundell may have had a lucky escape late on day one when umpire Nigel Llong either didn’t pick up or flatly dismissed what appeared to be a tiny hot spot on his bat.

Pat Cummins and the Australians were adamant they had their man caught behind and went straight upstairs the moment umpire Aleem Dar turned them down.

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(L-R) Australia captain Tim Paine, plus bowlers James Pattinson and Pat Cummins watch the scoreboard during the DRS review. Picture: AFP

Test great Ricky Ponting accused Llong of rushing his decision and said on Channel 7 the evidence should have been “conclusive” in Australia’s favour.

Following on from a week of DRS drama in Melbourne where Australian captain Tim Paine slammed the technology, run-making star Marnus Labuschagne said the gut-feeling of the team was that another one may have slipped through the cracks of the under-fire technology.

“I thought it was out. I heard a noise,” said Labuschagne.

Pat Cummins thought he had his man... but was unsuccessful in his appeal. Picture: AAP

“I was at mid-wicket or square leg. I can’t definitely say it was out. But I heard a noise and the time sounded good and the whole cordon went up. I thought it was out.

“It’s hard for us to see (hot spot) out there because it’s not as high definition on the big screen.

“But I think James Pattinson said in the circle, ‘there’s a little spot’.

“He spotted it … we heard a noise and we thought the time was good hence why we reviewed it and unfortunately it wasn’t out.”

Ponting said Llong had made another blunder.

“I think if there’s no mark on the bat before and there’s a mark exactly where the ball passes the bat on Hotspot, for mine that is conclusive evidence,” Ponting said on Channel 7.

“We had one at the MCG (with) Mitchell Santner … it hit the sweat band. I think the umpires’ decisions are being rushed.

“They have to ask for every possible (angle) to make the correct decision.”