‘That’s a disgrace’: McGrath, Ponting erupt as Australia robbed

After more than 100 years of Tests, cricket has suddenly been plunged into a catching crisis, with legends of the game in complete confusion.

Glenn McGrath was furious. Ricky Ponting in complete confusion. And poor old Mitchell Starc - he was just begging Ben Duckett to engage in a bit of verbal.

The rest of the cricket world was split after controversy erupted late on day four of the Second Ashes Test with Australia pressing for victory.

England was 4/113, chasing 371 runs for victory, when Duckett skied the ball to fine leg where Starc caught it above his knees before using the ball to break his fall.

As the Aussies celebrated and Duckett (50 not out) made his way to the pavilion, the third umpire intervened and told the English opener to wait on the field.

According to commentators Nasser Hussain and Ricky Ponting, Marais Erasmus ruled Starc had control of the ball but not his body when the ball touched the ground.

Aussie cricket legend Glenn McGrath was apoplectic when it was given not out.

“I’m sorry, that is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever seen,” McGrath said on the BBC.

“He’s got that ball under control. I’ve seen everything this game has to offer. If that is not out, then every other catch that’s ever been taken should not be out. That is a disgrace.”

Another controversial catch!

OUT or NOT? #Ashes | #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/fBEC7o1hTi

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 1, 2023

Hussain and Ponting were also stunned. “Unbelievable moment,” Hussain said.

“I must admit I’m a little bit confused,” Ponting added. “Where are they judging when and how the ball is under control?

“As far as I’m concerned - if you look at the two in this game - Mitchell Starc has had more control and longer than Steve Smith did when he took Joe Root in the first innings.”

Starc took out his frustration by chirping at Duckett, who questioned why the fast bowler was directing his anger at him.

After play, former England skipper Andrew Strauss sided with the Aussies.

“For me it was out. Mitchell Starc was in control of the ball. But it was sloppy by him. He just needed to get his hand under the ball,” Strauss said.

“You’re taught from a very young age to protect the ball from the ground and he’ll be kicking himself he didn’t do that.”

Mitchell Starc uses the hand holding the ball to break his fall. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

In light of how the day played out to that point the decision won’t weigh too heavily on the mind of the Australian players.

After Usman Khawaja (77) and Steve Smith (34) threatened to kill off the game, England unleashes a bouncer barrage the likes of which the game has never seen before.

For three hours they sent down nothing but short-pitched bowling and it rattled the visitors, who lost their last eight wickets for less than 100 runs.

After England’s top order was crucified for giving the Aussie outfield catching practise when Pat Cummins and Co. had employed the same tactic earlier in the match, Khawaja, Smith and Cameron Green (18) were all caught in the deep.

There were more questions asked when Travis Head (seven) and Alex Carey (21) were removed fending away deliveries aimed at their bodies. Ponting and Kevin Pietersen were among the former players to wonder what was the better strategy - getting out playing shots that might score you runs or shots that wouldn’t?

But then Nathan Lyon stole the show with a courageous cameo that will go down in Ashes folklore.

Nathan Lyon delivered a couragous cameo. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Lyon, who most had assumed was done for the match if not the series, walked out to bat and delighted the crowd by scoring a boundary in a 15-run partnership with Starc.

It pushed Australia’s second innings score to 279 and despite the presence of Headingley hero Ben Stokes (29 not out), the visitors will like their chances of wrapping up the game on day five.

2.40am - England in trouble as Cummins strikes twice

Australia is starting to sniff a quick kill after Pat Cummins removed Joe Root and Harry Brook in the same over.

Cummins struck Root on the forearm with a nasty bouncer with the first ball of the 13th over of the English innings.

He followed it with another brute of a delivery which Root fended to David Warner at first slip.

Brook managed one risky drive in the air that went for four before being knocked over by a peach that hit the top of off stump. England is 4/45.

1.50am - Starc on fire with new ball

Mitchell Starc is creating all sorts of early headaches for the English - and has been rewarded with two wickets.

Starc almost had Ben Duckett in the first over of England’s innings when Cameron Green almost took another freak catch in the gully.

But he found the breakthrough in his second over and left England 1/9 when Zak Crawley tickled one off his hip down the leg side and Alex Carey took a neat catch.

After Nathan Lyon’s heroics for Australia, Ollie Pope joined the fray despite being hampered by injury.

But he was gone within a couple of overs when Starc produced an unplayable in-swinger that ricocheted off the English batsman’s pads and on to the stumps.

12.55am - ‘Utterly pointless’ Nathan Lyon stunt slammed

Fair play Nathan Lyon 👏 #EnglandCricket | #Ashespic.twitter.com/ZiqstQkU16

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 1, 2023

Nathan Lyon has won the heart of the cricket world by walking out to bat despite what was seen as a match-ending calf injury.

Lyon basically used his bat as a walking stick as he hobbled his way out to the middle to join Mitchell Starc for the 10th wicket partnership midway through the second session.

He neatly clipped the first ball he faced from Ben Stokes to fine leg, but had to remain in his crease because he couldn’t run.

“It’s all very good to show bravery to get out there but if you can’t score a run it’s utterly pointless,” former England captain Andrew Strauss said in commentary.

It became hard to watch in the following over when it appeared Starc had cleared the boundary only for England fielder Rehan Ahmed to flick the ball back into play.

It left Lyon - who had been standing mid-pitch expecting to watch the ball go for six -hopping to get through for a single and the pain he was enduring was clear to see.

“It seems foolhardy to me - there’s a guy’s career potentially on the line here,” Strauss said.

Nathan Lyon plays another nice shot. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

But while Strauss thought it pointless, the occasional boundary from Starc brought vigorous applause from the Aussie dressing room.

He ended a 15-ball stretch of dot balls with a six off Josh Tongue and then Lyon finally got off the mark by hitting the ninth ball he faced to the boundary.

Lyon actually played the short ball better than plenty of his teammates before eventually being caught at midwicket to end the innings.

He helped add 15 runs for the final wicket as Australia set England a chase of 371 runs for victory.

Standing ovation for Nathan Lyon from Lord's hall room for his incredible committee & dedication. pic.twitter.com/w8A4zA37UF

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) July 1, 2023

12.43am - Lead passes 350 as Cummins, Hazlewood fall

Ricky Ponting believes Australia already has enough runs in the bank but they’re not in the impregnable position they’d hoped.

The Aussies fell to 9/264 when Pat Cummins and then Josh Hazlewood were out to the short ball.

Cummins popped up a catch to gully after failing to deal with a Stuart Broad bouncer before Hazlewood was grasped at short leg.

12.13am — Short ball claims five

Alex Carey is the latest to fall to the short ball.

Ricky Ponting said the issue was the “lack of intent” but the result is the same as he fended the ball to Joe Root at short leg.

12am — Cam Green follows suit

That’s four wickets now lost to the short ball today.

Cameron Green has been caught on the boundary having a go at a short ball from Ollie Robinson for 18.

While Australia was probably looking to force some sort of advantage, it wound up being another Aussie who fell into England’s trap.

The lead is 331.

10.20pm — ‘What on earth is going on?’: Historic barrage

Australia lost 3/92 in the first session but will be happy with their work as the lead moved above 300.

Former Aussie white-ball skipper Aaron Finch said it was an even session.

“There was a lot of talk about short- pitched bowling the game going nowhere — (Australia scored at) three an over, it’s was even,” he said.

Callum Ferguson added: “England brought a game plan change, like the Australians did but I feel the Australians handled it better.

“They lost more wickets than they would have liked. 3/92, it’s probably level-pegging for the session. It’s still a long way ahead of what England has delivered. They will look at it like a win.”

However, one of the issues was how the wickets fell.

All three of the wickets that fell were from short balls.

Incredibly, The CricViz Analyst Twitter account reported: “Of the 2596 sessions of Tests with 20+ overs of fast bowling in the CricViz database, none have had a shorter average length than in the morning session today.

“9.71m.

“A historic barrage of short bowling from England, proving vital in their bid to stay alive.”

Broad celebrates. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Smith knew he made a blunder. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Usman Khawaja was the first out, hooking despite three men back on the leg side.

On SEN, Adam Collins said: “He’s holed out — that’s a poor piece of batting.

“Khawaja, so controlled, so disciplined, he knew what Broad was trying to do with three men set back, and he’s popped it straight down the throat of the man at deep backward square.”

When Steve Smith was dismissed soon after in similar scenes just one over later, Collins was blown away.

“Smith’s holed out as well — what on earth is going on?” Collins screamed.

“Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja were doing absolutely everything right and in the space of a couple of overs, they’ve inexplicibly fallen into the leg side trap. That might just change this Test match.”

9.50pm — England join the party

What a catch from Joe Root. Photo: Twitter

England have finally joined the party, following Australia’s lead with the bouncer barrage.

After getting Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith with short balls as they went after the bowling, Travis Head was dismissed with another short ball.

Digging it in under the visor, Stuart Broad earned the edge as he squeezed it out.

“(Joe) Root in there, former England cricket put in at boot heel and takes an absolute screamer to his left,” Nasser Hussain said in commentary.

All of a sudden, Australia lead by 288 with only five wickets left, a lot less comfortable than it was looking a few overs ago with three more wickets in the sheds.

This could be interesting.

9.43pm — Punter makes Poms eat their words

Ricky Ponting has thrown England's words back in their face. Photo: Getty Images

With a 281-run lead, the question has to be asked how much is enough.

Inside the second last day of the Test now, the batting conditions will just get tougher.

But with England crowing about their ability to chase any fourth innings score on the final day, it’ll be put to the Test.

Cric Informer quoted Ricky Ponting from earlier in the Test, with the former Aussie skipper saying the tourists need to put England to the Test.

“Every time we hear from England they actually said they play only to win, not for a draw,” Ponting was quoted.

“If I’m Australia, I’ll make it as unachievable as possible, let them go as hard as they can.”

9.20pm — Two in two overs as England respond

Australia has opened a 281 run lead but have lost two wickets in two overs, leaving two new batters at the wicket.

Usman Khawaja was lulled into a pull shot to be caught at the fine leg boundary for 77 off 187 balls.

But England struck again when Steve Smith was out pulling for 34 as Australia suddenly dropped to 4/190.

It’s a big lead already though so it will be interesting how both sides play it.

8.20pm — Aussies show Poms how it’s done

Bazball may be setting the cricket world on fire but there’s a reason the Aussies are world champions.

In the face of the relentless T20 style onslaught, Australia have stayed calm and Mark Taylor says that’s why the visitors are playing so well.

“Uzzie (Khawaja) epitomises what Australian cricket are doing,” Taylor said before play. “They’re playing their game.

“There is talk about England’s cricket, Bazball, Usman Khawaja is a traditional-type player. It doesn’t make him better or worse than anyone else. Just makes him a fine player when making runs.

“He gets the bowlers to bowl to him. He lets balls go. Plays like a good old-fashioned opener. You bowl him something full or short, he puts you away. You bowl him a good ball, he respects it. He is doing very well.

“He has had tough times in England over here where the moving ball has found the edge. Now he’s found his form, his feet and, from an Australian point of view, it is great to see him finding plenty of runs.”

Uzzie’s playing his own game. Photo by Ian Kington / AFP

Khawaja has over 100 more runs than Joe Root in second on the leading run scorers list but has easily the lowest strike rate in the series at 39.17.

After 51 overs, Khawaja is 63 off 142 balls.

Kevin Pietersen also paid Khawaja tribute.

“A lot been said about Bazball — there’s Bazball on the right but the leading run scorer has been the batter who’s had the most solid defence and is not ashamed to use that defence,” he said.

6.45pm — ‘Without brains’: Legend’s face says it all

England came into the Ashes with high hopes but less than two matches in, the nation’s legends can’t look any more.

Despite a dominant day two, England were slammed for leaving runs out on the pitch after unravelling in the face of Australia’s bouncer barrage.

Trying to take on the game, England’s batters were slammed after throwing away their wickets on day three as well.

Losing 6/47 on the morning of day three, it handed Australia a 91-run lead.

England legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who was knighted in 2019 for his services to the sport, was caught unable to look on day three.

He replied to a team that read: “This photo of @GeoffreyBoycott says all you need to know about England’s batting since about 5.30 last night. #rubbish #TheAshes”, writing: “Yes it does, batting without brains. Chatting to my captain Mike Brearley.”

Yes it does, batting without brains. Chatting to my captain Mike Brearley https://t.co/gJMmUEPrbn

— Sir Geoffrey Boycott (@GeoffreyBoycott) June 30, 2023

Boycott was far from the only to slam England’s performance, with the Poms accused of throwing their wickets away.

“Love how England have played in the last 12 months. But seriously, this is farcical batting,” tweeted BBC reporter Henry Moeran.

Harry Brook came in for the harshest criticism after becoming one of Mitchell Starc’s three victims, popping up a cross-bat swipe to Pat Cummins at mid-on straight after bringing up his 50.

“On the one hand, Harry Brook made 50, but on the other hand, that is a f**king stupid way to get out when you’re still 120 behind in the first innings of a Test match,” Brydon Coverdale tweeted.

Vaughan doubled down when Bairstow spooned a catch to Pat Cummins off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

“This is stupid cricket from England. I fear they have forgotten the art of soaking up periods of the game that aren’t easy,” he wrote.

“Test cricket is a test and in that test sometimes you have to soak up pressure. They have gifted wickets to Australia, who are without their off spinner.”

Australia will have to watch out for a reply on day four.