Ashes 2023: Steve Smith roasted over diving catch to dismiss Joe Root on day two

Steve Smith’s diving catch to dismiss Joe Root on day two has sparked yet another debate over whether Australia are indeed still “cheats”.

Steve Smith’s diving catch to dismiss Joe Root on day two of the Lord’s Test has sparked yet another debate over the fine line between a grassed catch and a drop, with several armchair critics of Australia emerging from the woodwork to brand the former skipper a “cheat”.

It appears Australia will have to wait a bit longer before the world forgets the 2018 South Africa tour. Not a Test goes by without eager overseas fans capitalising on any opportunity to label the current squad cheats.

The ball popped out as Smith‘s body hit the ground but, he managed to hold on to the ball with his chest and jumped up to claim the catch.

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In the image below, Smith can be seen gripping the ball inches from the surface. But the one captured a millisecond later with half the ball brushing the turf was what prompted the same old song.

Reddit’s primary cricket forum was flooded with comments from viewers sticking the boot in.

“Cheat, seriously that’s Not Out,” one wrote.

“Shocking decision, that‘s the most grounded ball I’ve ever seen.”

“Australia is the best team in the world … at claiming grassed catches.”

The MCC’s own rulebook clearly states that a fair catch is when the ball “is held in the hand or hands of a fielder, even if the hand holding the ball is touching the ground, or is hugged to the body”.

I’d say that’s caught?

The image that sparked a wave of criticism for Smith

But some were on Smith’s side and told the whiners to zip it.

“The ball cannot touch the ground at all until the fielder is in control of both it and their own movement. For this to be out the third umpire had to believe this ball was not in contact with the ground at all,” one fan said.

Two weeks ago, it was Cameron Green in the firing line for supposedly claiming an illegal grab.

India fans were claiming a robbery after a controversial moment on day four of the World Test championship at The Oval.

But it was a moment early in the chase that will be the biggest talking point of the match. Cameron Green was targeted with an ugly chant of “cheat” by Indian fans after his catch in the gully.

The third umpire was asked to decide Shubman Gill’s fate and after countless replays which showed Green reaching the ball well before it hit the ground – and him getting at least one finger underneath the Duke – it was finally called a fair catch.

Root goes! 👋

A great catch from Smith and admirable persistence from Starc gets Australia their fourth. #TheAshes 2nd Test | Live, on Channel 9 & 9Now.#9WWOS#Cricket#Ashes#ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/puajXk5oD6

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) June 29, 2023

Australia were dealt more pain on day two as off-spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a distressing calf injury.

Lyon clutched his calf muscle after a spirited dash from the boundary to field a shot from England’s Ben Duckett. The 35-year-old hobbled off the field to let Australia’s medical team examine his injury.

There was a visible glimmer of dismay in Lyon’s eyes as he wiped away what appeared to be a tear.

“Nathan Lyon suffered an injury to his right calf while fielding in the final session today. He will be further assessed after play. A further update, if available, will be shared in the morning,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said.

Lyon‘s absence for the remainder of the second day, and potentially beyond, casts a dark cloud over Australia’s pursuit of Ashes glory.

Steve Smith, Australia‘s batting maestro who etched his name on the scorecard with a magnificent century, acknowledged the potential game-changing ramifications of Lyon’s injury. “I don’t know how he is. It didn’t look good,” Smith said.

“Doesn’t look ideal for the rest of the game, losing a spinner on a surface that isn’t offering a lot to the fast bowlers. If he’s no good to play, it’s a big loss for us. Fingers crossed he’s okay. He’s in his 100th consecutive Test, and I know he was looking forward to it.”

Australia were dealt more pain on day two as off-spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a distressing calf injury on day two.

Australia‘s 1-0 lead in the five-match series, earned with a resounding victory at Edgbaston, now stands under threat with Lyon’s setback.

Prior to his injury, Lyon dismissed Zak Crawley, claiming his 496th Test wicket and securing his ninth of the series.

The second Test marked him as only the sixth player in the history of the game to achieve the remarkable feat of 100 consecutive Test matches, joining the ranks of Allan Border and Mark Waugh as the third Australian to do so.

Sitting at eighth place on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers, Lyon ranks as the fourth most successful spinner.

Only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath stand above him in terms of Test wickets.

Day three begins at 8pm tonight (AEST).