‘Terrible’: Cricket world erupts at Tim Paine’s DRS decision in Boxing Day Test

The cricket community has raged at Australian captain Tim Paine’s controversial dismissal during the Boxing Day Test.

Tim Paine of Australia walks off the field after being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja.

What goes around, comes around.

After being handed a reprieve in the first innings, Australian captain Tim Paine would consider himself bitterly unlucky to be given out caught behind at the MCG on Monday.

Indian spin bowler Ravindra Jadeja threw down a short delivery outside off stump, which Paine looked to cut through point.

Jadeja drew the false stroke, which prompted an appeal from India’s fielders, but on-field umpire Paul Reiffel refused to award the dismissal.

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Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane called for the DRS, and there was a noticeable spike on the Snicko technology.

But although there was no edge visible on Hotspot, third umpire Paul Wilson believed there was enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision.

Rishabh Pant of India catches out Tim Paine of Australia.

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Paine could barely comprehend what had transpired, shaking his head in disbelief as he exited the iconic venue. He appeared to mutter, “What the f**k,” as he reluctantly made he way towards the changerooms.

“There was nothing on the Hotspot,” former Australian bowler Brett Lee said on Fox Cricket.

“I just don’t know how they can overturn something with nothing on the Hotspot.

“That’s not right in my opinion.”

Australian cricket icon Shane Warne theorised that the noise on Snicko originated from Paine’s foot scrapping along the pitch.

“Look at that front foot slide across the turf,” Warne said.

“I wonder if they’re marrying up the sound there, and (the noise) is the foot sliding.

“He was clearly annoyed, Tim Paine. He didn’t think he’d hit it.”

Former Australian bowler Merv Hughes conceded on ABC Grandstand: “I’m confused.”

I don’t get that. Surely it needs to be concrete to be overturned but you can overturn a caught behind without an indicator on hotspot. #AUSvIND

— Liam Warren (@liam_warren94) December 28, 2020

How do they give him out with no hot spot? Benefit of the doubt? This stuff is cooked. #AUSvIND

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) December 28, 2020

If Paine is out, the DRS rules need to be changed.

Nothing on hotspot and a very blunt noise on Snicko.

Umpire said not out, and benefit of the doubt for the batsman?

Terrible decision.#AUSvIND

— Scott Phillips (@TMFScottP) December 28, 2020

You still can’t convince me we’re better off with DRS (in its current form) than without it. #AUSvIND

— Brett Sprigg (@BrettSprigg) December 28, 2020

DRS technology had been a bone of contention throughout the second Test, particularly after Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne survived an LBW decision on Saturday.

Fox Cricket commentator Mark Howard said: “The ironic thing, when the DRS came in … it was meant to get rid of the unknown, get rid of the debate, and it’s actually caused more debate.”

“Just on the Snicko, the people in truck that work down there and analyse this stuff, they say a woody edge is a sharp spike and you see a duller spike from a scrape of a boot or a ball glancing a thigh pad.

“That’s more of a dull from what I’m told.”

Some pretty patriotic commentary from Fox. RTS overrides Hot Spot. There is a spike. Get on with it. #AUSvIND

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) December 28, 2020

What awfully biased commentary to argue that snicko should be ignored if there's nothing on hotspot.

You know what was done when the shoe was on the other foot? Accusing batsmen of lining the edges of their bats with Vaseline. #AUSvIND

— Kaushik Vaidya (@KaushikVaidya) December 28, 2020

Snicko > Hotspot. #AusvInd #Paine

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 28, 2020

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Former ICC umpire Simon Taufel explained the decision on Channel 7: “There’s a number of things that the third umpire is working through. The first thing is if there is a deviation – that is normally the first thing they look for.

“The second thing is, if there is no deviation apparent, they look at the hotspot. If there’s no hotspot, they further protocol is to go to RTS.

“If the ball is close to the bat while there is a spike when the ball goes past the bat, or up to one frame past the bat, that is deemed to be conclusive evidence.

“There is a redundancy in that conclusive evidence protocol at the third umpire’s disposal.”

Australia were in dire straits after Paine’s dismissal, still trailing by 32 runs with only four wickets in hand.