Cricket in disbelief over ‘absolutely pathetic’ WBBL stumping

Any time fans get sick of their favourite sport’s review system, they may need to look no further than this absolute howler in the WBBL.

If you ever wonder why so many decisions are sent up to the DRS in cricket, remember this call in the future.

In the Adelaide Strikers four-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars on Tuesday afternoon, the Victorians were looking to bounce back from their historic loss on Saturday against their South Australian counterparts.

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Batting first, the Stars hit 6/133, a far cry from their record low WBBL score of 29 in the previous fixture.

But while the Stars are trying to rebuild their season, the rub of the green is not quite going their way just yet after Rhys McKenna was given out stumped in an absolute howler.

An over after Annabel Sutherland had been stumped by Bridget Patterson off her pads, it looked like McKenna had been victim of the same dismissal when the square leg umpire had lifted the finger.

Facing Aussie quick Megan Schutt, McKenna missed a full ball, having hit 14 off 4 balls, with the rebound off the pads knocking off the leg stump bail.

Initially believing it was a clear stumping, the replay told another story.

“Hang on, how is that out? That’s not out,” commentator Kelly Appleby said. “She is well and truly in her crease, wasn’t she?

“That is ridiculous. Can I say that?

“That’s not out, it came off Patterson’s shin guard again and by the looks of things, Rhys was well and truly in her crease.”

No way that is out. Photo: Fox Sports

The question was asked if McKenna walked. Photo: Fox Sports

You can't be stumped on a no ball. Photo: Fox Sports

Confusion was clear as one of the commentators believed that McKenna had walked and convinced the umpire she was out.

But the plot thickened when the scorecard showed that McKenna had been bowled — even though the ball clearly didn’t hit the stumps.

The scorecard was then changed to a stumping.

When the change was made, Emily Smith joked: “I am stumped.”

There were also questions over whether it was a front foot no ball.

Fans were quick to slam the decision.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy posted: “Rhys McKenna’s dismissal should never happen. The WBBL needs DRS in all its matches. Shocking.”

ESPN Cricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan said it clearly wasn’t bowled that asked whether: “even in these streamed games there could be replays for ‘line’ decisions where the replay quality is pretty good”.

WWOS’ Murray Conallin wrote: “Aaannndd that’s the end of the WBBL for the Ump at Square Leg this summer.”

Crazy sequence pic.twitter.com/y0h0pvTF8l

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) October 24, 2023

Elite umpiring that . Absolutely pathetic that it’s given out. McKenna is in when bails dislodged #WBBL09

— Cricket Tamizhan (@CricketTamizhan) October 24, 2023

Come on @CricketAus if you are fair dinkum about a fair competition you need to have video umpire on all games not just @7cricket televised games. McKenna was not out @WBBL
#WBBL09

— Michael Robinson (@ozrobbo) October 24, 2023

Ahhh Mckenna was locked and loaded in her crease. How is that out?!#WBBL09

— Emily Lacy (@starkidlacy) October 24, 2023

McKenna stumped off no-ball when she’s in her crease, nice #wbbl

— The Dish King (@thedishking1) October 24, 2023

Last season it was revealed the DRS system would be used in 24 of the 59 WBBL matches — the games broadcast on Channel 7.

However, this game was among the remaining 35 games were broadcast on Foxtel and cricket.com.au via live stream technology that doesn’t support DRS.

Officials said the plan would be to work towards full DRS coverage in the future.

However, calls like this will no doubt increase calls to fast-track the technology.

As McKenna hit 14 off 5 balls, it’s hard to know how it may have changed the ball if she was able to bat through the final five overs.

In the end, the Strikers came home with two balls remaining for a four-wicket win on the back Katie Mack’s 40-ball 48.