The rare DRS decision that left both Australia and India furious

In the latest sign the Decision Review System is broken, both India and Australia felt let down after this LBW shout.

Nathan Lyon felt hard done by.

Nathan Lyon was denied an LBW shout by a Decision Review System head-scratcher that left both sides feeling aggrieved early on day five of the Fourth Test.

Lyon was bowling his first over of the day when Cheteshwar Pujara advanced down the pitch and was struck on the pad.

The field umpire said it was not out, despite believing Pujara hadn’t offered a shot.

Lyon and Aussie skipper Tim Paine were certain it was hitting the stumps and referred it to the Decision Review System, which showed the ball hitting the middle of leg stump.

Half of the ball needed to be below the black line at the top of the stumps.

But it was given not out on height, because half of the ball needed to be below a black line that runs across the top of each stump - not the bails.

It left Lyon and the Aussie team frustrated no end - and fans baffled about why a ball that clearly looked to be hitting the stumps was not out.

That DRS looked like the ball fully hit the leg stump. How is that not out??? #AUSvIND

— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) January 19, 2021

Nathan Lyon so unlucky not to get #Pujara. Don’t like umpires call when it shows as much of the ball hitting the stumps. #AUSvIND

— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) January 19, 2021

Aussie Test great Greg Blewett said Lyon was “furious” after the decision was delivered on the big screen and Pujara remained two not out with India 1/39.

“He’s furious, Nathan Lyon. Furious,” he told Channel 7. “That‘s a big moment. And that has irked the Australians.”

“Massive moment that LBW shout,” Michael Slater added. “A good portion of the ball was hitting, but obviously not more than 50 per cent which is what the guide is. A massive moment.

“Nathan Lyon is still asking, why was that not out? That’s the crazy nature of it, if the finger had gone up, it would have been out because it was the umpire’s call. It would have been a good chance the finger was raised, I’m sure.”

But that was just the start of the controversy.

Many other observers and dozens of Indian fans couldn’t believe Pujara was ruled to have not offered a shot in the first place, which would have made the close call of where the ball was hitting the wickets redundant.

Was Pujara playing a shot? #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/DRJwb0YEjz

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 19, 2021

Cricket writer Daniel Brettig was adamant Pujara’s bat was next to his pad, not behind it.

“That is a pretty amazing no shot call,” he tweeted. “This must now mean if you play with bat and pad together you are at risk of being deemed no shot so you need to push your bat out in front and be at more risk of a bat/pad inside edge.”

that's right on the cusp but I think he's tucking it

however I have seen far more egregious attempts at making it look like you're trying to hit the ball pic.twitter.com/2glpEzsHWA

— Matt Coleman (@_MattColeman) January 19, 2021