‘Panicked big time’: WTC final rocked by ‘dodgy’ act as Carey says not again

Alex Carey is no stranger to a Lord’s controversy and found himself in another sticky situation against South Africa in the WTC final.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was embroiled in another Lord’s controversy after South African batter David Bedingham evaded what would have been a bizarre dismissal on day two of the World Test Championship final.

The match was on a knife’s edge at stumps after Australia collapsed to be 8/144 in its second innings to lead by 218 runs - after earlier knocking South Africa over for 138.

The major talking point came during the final over before lunch on Thursday night when Australian all-rounder Beau Webster produced a length delivery that found Bedingham’s inside edge, striking him on the thigh and rolling down his upper leg.

Anticipating a potential catch, Carey walked towards Bedingham with gloves at the ready as the ball bobbled near the flap of his right pad.

“Catch it, catch it,” Australian vice-captain Steve Smith was overheard saying on the stump mics, foxsports.com.au reported.

However, the Proteas batter grabbed the ball, perhaps prematurely, and dropped it on the turf, prompting a muffled appeal from the Australians.

“How’s that?” opener Usman Khawaja inquired from first slip. “He’s used his hand!”

You can watch the controversial moment in the video player above

Alex Carey pounced too late. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Carey, perhaps still scarred from the fallout of Jonny Bairstow’s infamous stumping at the same venue two years ago, had no interest in offering an appeal.

“What’s happening here?” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said in commentary. “Controversy at Lord’s? No way. That will be talked about.”

Former England bowler Stuart Broad, who featured in the 2023 Ashes Test at Lord’s, continued: “I wonder if Alex Carey just said, ‘I’m not getting involved’. The ball never stopped, always moving. And Carey was pouncing.”

Umpire Richard Illingworth briefly consulted his counterpart before signalling not out, with Australian captain Pat Cummins offering a sheepish smile.

If the umpires had deemed that it was not a dead ball, Bedingham could have been given out for obstructing the field.

Law 37.3.1 states: “The striker is out obstructing the field if wilful obstruction or distraction by either batter prevents the striker being out caught.”

However, it was not obvious whether the ball had lodged in Bedingham’s pad when he grabbed the ball, which would have determined whether the ball was dead.

Law 20.1.1.4 states: “The ball becomes dead when, whether played or not, it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of their clothing or equipment.”

Asked about the incident during the post-match press conference, Bedingham responded: “I panicked big time, because I think Carey was standing up, so he was quite close.

“The umpire said regardless it was a dead ball, but I think the way I dropped the ball (and) picked up the ball came across as a bit dodgy.

“I’m glad they just withdrew the appeal ... I’m glad nothing happened out of it.”

Meanwhile, Cummins explained that the umpires had ruled it as a dead ball, but elaborated that Australia “probably would have withdrawn” the appeal.

Bedingham, unbeaten on 31 at the time, was later dismissed by Cummins for 45 - one of the Aussie skipper’s six first innings wickets.

Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for one run, sparking South Africa’s collapse.

But the carnage continued in Australia’s second dig as the Aussies were reduced to 7/73 as Kagiso Rabada (3/44) and Lungi Ngidi (3/35) did the bulk of the damage.

But Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 to push the lead past 200 before the wicketkeeper was LBW to Rabada shortly before the close.

The last over of the day saw Starc dropped on 14 when Marco Jansen shelled a routine catch off Wiaan Mulder.

A remarkable 28 wickets fell in two days on a pitch which, while offering some assistance to the quicks, was by no means unplayable.

Lungi Ngidi celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Steven Smith. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

But a match scheduled for five days, could now finish before the end of the third.

“In England when it’s overcast, the ball seems to do a bit more,” Starc told the BBC.

“Everyone is quick to jump on the batters but you’ve got to notice the good bowling from both sides.”

Ngidi, meanwhile, insisted South Africa were still in the game. “It’s in the balance right now,” he said. “Two wickets in hand, if we can knock those over and maybe chase 225, people are going to get their money’s worth.”

Rabada, who had taken 5/51 in the first innings, tormented Australia again with two wickets in the 11th over.

He had Usman Khawaja caught behind for six and, two balls later, removed Cameron Green for a duck following the number three’s four in the first innings.

Wickets continued to tumble after tea.

Left-arm quick Jansen had Marnus Labuschagne, in his first Test as an opener, caught behind for 22.

And Australia’s 3/44 became 4/48 next over when Beau Webster, who topscored in Australia’s first innings with 72, fell lbw to Ngidi.

Pat Cummins collides with South Africa's Kyle Verreynne as he appeals for a LBW. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Australia were reeling at 7/73 after Cummins was bowled off his pad by an excellent Ngidi yorker.

But Carey and Starc led a defiant response that kept their side on course to retain the title.

Earlier, Cummins finished with figures of 6/28 as he reached 300 career Test wickets and secured a coveted place on the Lord’s honours board with a five-wicket haul.

“He does it time and time again,” said Starc of Cummins. “He led from the front before he was captain and now as captain as well.

“The quality and skills he has in his pocket – I’m thrilled for him to get a bagful. To go to 300 is a special effort.”

South Africa lost their last five wickets for 12 runs as Cummins ripped through the batting order.

Only South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) offered meaningful resistance during a fifth-wicket stand of 64.

After lunch, Cummins struck four times in a mere 17 balls of devastating pace bowling.

South Africa had resumed on Thursday at 4/43, battling to put enough runs on the board.

Bavuma, who faced 37 balls for his overnight three not out, changed gears with a lofted cover-drive for four off left-arm quick Starc before pulling Cummins for six.

Cummins had his revenge, however, when Bavuma’s checked drive was brilliantly caught at cover by a diving Labuschagne.

He then dismissed Kyle Verreynne lbw for 13 and, three balls later, held a simple return catch as Jansen fell for a duck.

The Australia skipper ended the innings with his 300th Test wicket, Rabada well caught low down at deep square leg by Beau Webster.

- with AFP

Originally published as ‘Panicked big time’: WTC final rocked by ‘dodgy’ act as Carey says not again