Big Bash gun roasted over ‘worst ever’ DRS call

The BBL14 started in comical scenes as a gesture from inside the TV commentary box put a Melbourne Stars batter to shame.

Sam Harper is being roasted around the cricket world after a bizarre decision to review an LBW dismissal that left the wicketkeeper red faced.

The Melbourne Stars batter was one of three victims to fall to red hot Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson, but his was by far the worst.

You can watch the bizarre review in the video highlights above.

Harper was dismissed for one run in the fourth over as the Stars reached 9/146 after their 20 overs.

The wheels were coming off early for the Stars when they collapsed to be 3/2.

It didn’t help that Harper squandered their only review for an LBW decision that the DRS ball tracking showed was going to hit middle stump.

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A gesture from Michael Hussey from inside the Fox Cricket commentary box showed just how ridiculous the review was when the Aussie Test great raised his finger as soon as the ball hit Harper’s pads.

“It was looking pretty straight from up here,” he said.

“It was absolutely plum.”

Sam Harper was plum. Photo: Kayo.

Former Aussie coach Justin Langer also couldn’t believe the review when talking to Ricky Ponting.

“Rick, you said Sam Harper might have thought it was going to be too high,” he said on Channel 7.

“But he’s shorter than you which suggests it was never going to be too high. That’s plum LBW.”

Cricket commentators on social media were much more scathing.

News Corp journalist Lachlan mcKirdy posted on X: “To be fair to Sam Harper and his review, that ball was missing off and leg stump”.

Sam Harper had a shocker. Photo: Kayo.

One fan posted: “When you only have one review, using that one was despicable.

“Awful from Sam Harper.”

Others also pointed out Harper’s height.

“Sam Harper was right to question a LBW decision when the ball hits above the pad,” one fan posted.

“However, Sam Harper also forgot he is 4 foot 5. That was plum.”

Cricket reporter Rob Barron also posted: “Sam Harper just genuinely reviewed an lbw for height which hit him in the middle of his legs. His shoulder is in line with the bails”.

The Roar described it as the “one of the worst you’ll see”.

Harper was far from the only batsman bamboozled by Richardson.

He fast bowler with 3-19 from four overs, adding Beau Webster’s wicket, who had been released from the Australian Test team to play in this game.

Injury has restricted Richardson to three Test matches, and he has represented Australia in 15 ODIs and 18 IT20s, NCA NewsWire reports.

Sam Harper was victim to Jhye Richardson. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images.

And while he’s not focusing on the next level just yet, he hopes the opportunity comes around to add to those figures.

“International cricket is always the goal,” he said.

“But I’m obviously not there at the moment, so it would be unrealistic for me to think about international cricket.

“I made my return to Shield cricket, which was a massive goal of mine, so I’ve ticked that box.

“But I think Test cricket is obviously the goal. I’d love to play Test cricket again.

“I think it’s difficult having had a taste of it and then having that sort of ripped away.”

The match was later stopped following scary scenes with Stars all-rounder Hilton Cartwright was taken to hospital following an incident in Sunday night’s match in Perth.

Cartwright was cleared of concussion.

He needed to be stretchered from Optus Stadium while fielding in the six-wicket BBL loss after he dived and slid across the turf trying to stop a boundary.

He came to an abrupt stop and didn’t move for some time, sparking instant concern.

While it didn’t appear that his head hit the turf, a neck brace was applied.