Controversy erupts at World Test Championship after Cameron Green’s catch to dismiss Shubman Gill

Controversy has hit the World Test Championship final, with an inflammatory social media post from an Indian star adding to the high drama.

Australia’s Cameron Green was heckled by sections of The Oval crowd after claiming a controversial low catch at gully to remove Indian opener Shubman Gill - who later sent out an inflammatory tweet about the catch - as the World Test Championship final erupted.

Set 444 in a bit under four and ½ sessions to claim the world title, India was 3-164 at stumps on day four, with veteran pair Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (20 not out) keeping them in the hunt for what would be the highest successful chase in Test history.

India was 0-41 just before tea when Scott Boland drew an edge from Gill, with the lunging Green taking what would prove to be his second spectacular catch of the match at gully.

Gill however stood his ground given how low to the ground Green had taken the ball, with on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney referring the decision to third umpire Richard Kettleborough. After several minutes of deliberation, Kettleborough gave Gill out for 18, prompting uproar from the largely pro-India crowd.

Chants of “cheat, cheat” bellowed across the ground, while the Australian all-rounder copped similar taunts when he entered the attack.

Cameron Green’s catch led to claims of cheating from the Indian supporters at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Replays and still images showed Green had two fingers around the ball but that it was touching the grass.

Green was adamant he took the catch cleanly.

“At the time I definitely thought I caught it. I think in the heat of the moment I thought it was clean,” Green said.

“It was left up to the third umpire and he agreed.”

Asked about the crowd reaction, Green was philosophical.

🔎🔎🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/pOnHYfgb6L

— Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) June 10, 2023

“Obviously the Indian crowd are so passionate and obviously one of the favourite guys Shubman Gill got out and I think that’s what they were all kind of looking forward to watching, so it is what it is and we move on.”

Gill took to Twitter after play, posting a screenshot of the disputed catch with magnifying glasses and face-palm emojis.

Law 33.3 of the MCC’s laws of cricket states “the act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.”

Gill has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit for his tweet criticising the decision.Meanwhile, Indian players were on Monday fined 100 per cent of their match fees and Australian players docked 80 per cent for the slow over rates that marred the WTC final.

Australian legend Ricky Ponting sought to clarify the confusion on the ICC commentary feed.

“The ball went into his hand maybe six to eight inches above the ground but the question I have got was did any part of the ball touch the ground just after it completed the catch? I am sure that’s what (non-striker) Rohit Sharma is arguing with the umpires; I am sure that’s why Shubman Gill is so disappointed,” Ponting said.

“It had carried, six-eight inches above the ground; no doubt about that but did it then actually roll over and touch the top of the surface?”

Despite aggressive batting from India all afternoon, Australia was still in the box seat to claim its maiden world Test crown, after Nathan Lyon trapped Rohit lbw for 43 and Pat Cummins’ bounce worried Cheteshwar Pujara into parrying the ball to gloveman Alex Carey on 27.

But with talisman Kohli unbeaten, India remained a chance at pulling off a miraculous win.

With Virat Kohli at the crease, India has hope. Picture: AFP Images

MARNUS MYSTERY

Marnus Labuschagne doesn’t tend to deal in subtleties. He is a man of extremes, and both ends of his spectrum were on display on Saturday. When dismissed for 41 from what was a clear edge, he trudged painstakingly slowly off the field. It is a pattern for him. And yet in the field he is a hare, chasing balls into the outfield and cutting off boundaries that others would have conceded.

DOUBLE BREAK POINT

In a curious move, Australia batted past the drinks break on day four despite its lead having already surpassed 440 on the back of Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc’s partnership. Carey and Cummins continued in the middle, before Cummins popped one to point just four balls after the resumption. Carey joined him in jogging off the field as Australia declared, having wasted time for the sake of one extra run.

Did Australia get its declaration timing right? Picture: AFP Images

JADEJA’S GOT SOME APPEAL

As the game gradually moved further and further from India’s grasp on day four, Ravindra Jadeja at least kept things entertaining. Getting through his overs quickly, a refreshing change given the general tempo of the game. He certainly wasn’t going to leave anything to chance, getting right in the face of the umpire when appealing for an lbw against Green. That shout was turned down, but Jadeja got his man two balls later.

INTERMINABLE DELAYS

The over rates in this match have frankly been pathetic, and both teams are staring at fines. On Saturday the situation reached high farce when play stopped simultaneously for a visit from the seemingly omnipresent Indian physio and Oval groundstaff who kept appearing to prod footmarks.

RECAP THE DAY FOUR ACTION BELOW

12.00PM: AUSTRALIA’S CONTROVERIAL CALL

What demons? The uneven new ball bounce that has dominated each innings at The Oval has disappeared, with Pat Cummins and Scott Boland struggling to generate any sideways movement.

As we’ve seen over the four days, striking early is for the bowling side with the pitch flattening out after 15 or so overs.

Ricky Ponting questioned why Australia overlooked Mitchell Starc to opening the bowling.

“Australia’s decision to open the bowling with Scott Boland and not Mitchell Starc is interesting,” Ponting said. “Yes, Starc wasn’t at his best in the first innings. He looked like he was lacking rhythm (in India’s first innings) but when you think about Mitchell Starc as a bowler he does most of his damage with the new ball.

“Scott Boland, on the other hand, hasn’t done this for Australia in the past and, being the seam bowler that he is, I think he is as effective with a slightly used ball as he is with a brand new ball.”

11.16PM DECLARATION: AUSSIES SET INDIA RECORD CHASE

Australia has one hand on the World Test Championship trophy, setting India an almost insurmountable total of 443.

India needs to post the highest successful Test chase on record to claim the crown it lost last year.

There’s no doubt Australia will cop some heat for playing “negative” cricket by not declaring earlier - and the slow over rates plaguing this Test match could be telling the deeper this game goes

But India will need to score at well over three an over to have any hope of victory, which, as we saw at the Gabba in 2021, is not impossible. But to keep that up over the entirety of the match is an enormous ask.

Interestingly, Mitchell Starc has been overlooked for new ball duties for Australia.

This is just the second time he has not done so when playing a Test for Australia since 2015.

Scotty Boland shares the new cherry with Cummins.

Odd ending to the innings. Not sure why Cummins came out or waited till after the drinks break #WTC23

— Cricket Australia Fan (@CricketAustFan) June 10, 2023

10.35PM: AUSTRALIA BATTING INDIA OUT OF GAME

And that’s fifty for Alex Carey. Brilliant innings from the wicketkeeper who adds to 48 in the first innings.

Carey’s decision to shelve the reverse sweep - a shot that has brought him undone numerous times - is paying dividends a Australia’s lead passes 400.

And with history now firmly against India, Pat Cummins’ declaration decision becomes easier by the run.

“How long do Australia want to bat for? Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw asks. “How big do they want this lead to be? They want to it get up over 400.

“How many does Pat Cummins need before he gets the new ball into his own hand, into Mitch Starc’s hand and starts ripping into the Indian top order?”

India is not only facing a record chase at The Oval but the biggest run chase in the World Test Championship’s short history.

Perhaps memories Rishabh Pant’s 2021 Gabba knock is delaying the declaration...

9.30PM LUNCH WRAP: HISTORY ON AUSTRALIA’S SIDE

Australia is gradually moving towards an impregnable position in the World Test Championship final.

Starting the day with a 296-run lead, the Aussies appear in no rush to force a declaration at The Oval, building a target for India to claim what would be an unlikely world title.

With Alex Carey on 41 and Mitchell Starc on 11, Australia is 6-201 at lunch, giving the Aussies a lead of 374.

India now needs to defy history to win the final, the record successful fourth innings Test chase at this venue standing at 263, set by England against Australia in 1902.

India’s decision to play only one spinner, leaving out No. 1 ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, is looking sillier by the hour as Jadeja continues to threaten on a deteriorating wicket.

Nathan Lyon is among a contingent of the Australian touring party who is inspecting The Oval pitch during the lunch break.

8.59PM WICKET: GREEN’S CASTLE CRUMBLES

Cameron Green shoulders arms to Ravindra Jadeja for the last time at The Oval.

Coming over the wicket to the big right-hander, Jadeja beats Green’s front pad, sliding the Duke onto the stumps.

A telling blow but it may be too little too late as Alex Carey moves Australia’s lead past 350.

8.40PM: INDIA HERO’S BRAVE ACT REVEALED

Ajinkya Rahane remains off the field after copping a nasty blow to his index finger on day three.

Rahane shook off Pat Cummins’ brutal delivery to finish as India’s highest scorer to keep his side within striking distance of Australia.

But the damage appears to be significant, with Rahane’s wife penning an emotional social media post which reveals India’s first innings hero refused scans on the injured finger.

The Instagram post reads: “Despite your swollen finger, you refused a scan to protect your mindset and focused on batting, displaying incredible selflessness and determination. With unwavering resilience and commitment, you took your place at the crease, inspiring us all. I’m forever proud of your unwavering team spirit, my resilient partner. Love you endlessly!

Rahane reflected on his injured finger at stumps.

He’s expected to bat in the second innings after telling Channel 7: “Don’t think it will affect (my) batting (in India’s second innings).”

7.43PM WICKET: MARNUS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Marnus Labuschagne is undone by Umesh Yadav of all people in the third over of the day - and he’s dragging his feet back to the pavilion.

Labuschagne is a wonderful player and great ambassador for the game but he is embarrassingly slow walking off the ground when he gets out. It’s one thing to be disappointed but it makes him appear petulant.

The premier batsman in world is caught napping twice in two days, only this time he wasn’t in the pavilion.

7.34PM: DARK CLOUD HANGS OVER WTC FINAL

Slow over rates have once more marred this Test. More than 30 overs have been lost for good. A lack of spin has contributed, but the issue seems to be getting worse.

Players from both sides are on track to be docked much of their match fees, but it doesn’t seem to be a deterrent.

The irony of course is that Australia missed qualification for this fixture two years ago in part because of being docked points for a slow over rate in the Boxing Day Test of 2020.

The slow over rate has robbed millions of fans of close to 35 overs of cricket.

“It (slow over rate) is something world cricket needs to keep an eye on,” Nasser Hussain said commentary. “The game has lost a lot of overs this Test match.”

Without any time lost to weather, overs bowled by day in the World Test Championship Final:

Day 1: 85
Day 2: 74.3
Day 3: 75.4

What can be done to speed up the over rate in Test cricket? #WTCFinalpic.twitter.com/RuKfVdXFep

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 10, 2023

Overs lost in the #WTC23 Final at The Oval (with no weather interupptions):
Day 1: 5
Day 2: 13
Day 3: 12
Total so far: 30
Another similar day today and we could have lost near enough half-a-day's play!

— Richard V Isaacs (@RVICricketStats) June 10, 2023

CAPTAIN SNOOZE: ‘JUST RESTING MY EYES’

Marnus Labuschagne was the talk of the cricket world on day three of the World Test Championship - but it had nothing to do with his late heroics with the bat.

Cameras caught first-drop Labuschagne in a comatose state at the start of Australia’s second innings. Only problem, Labuschagne was due out in the middle after David Warner fell to Mohammed Siraj in the fourth over.

Labuschagne addressed the hilarious incident at stumps.

“I was just resting my eyes between balls and just relaxing,” he told SEN Cricket.

“I was trying to calm my nerves a little bit, you can’t watch the game all the time, I got up there and was awake pretty soon.”

But Labuschagne’s groggy state didn’t affect his Zen-like mindset, weathering an early Siraj storm to remain unbeaten at stumps.

STARC HINTS AT ASHES ROTATION PLANS

- Daniel Cherny in London

Mitchell Starc says Australia’s selectors are staring at a “tough decision” as they ponder which of the squad’s four frontline quicks take the three pace bowling slots for the opening Ashes Test.

With Josh Hazlewood expected to be available for the series opener at Edgbaston starting on Friday after recovering from a side issue, Australian selectors are facing a tough call about which two of Hazlewood, Starc and Scott Boland should accompany Pat Cummins in Birmingham.

Starc and Boland took two wickets apiece in India’s first innings of the World Test Championship final although the left-armer went at more than five runs an over.

“Certainly, tough decisions. I think you’ve just seen the way that Scotty’s bowled here already and what he offers. I think the beauty is that we all offer certain things and no one bowl is the same,” Starc said.

Mitch Starc says each of Australia’s quicks offer something different to the attack.

“You’ve obviously got Michael Neser around as well and Sean Abbott. He plays here at Surrey so we’ve got a good contingent. Much like we did last tour here we picked attacks based on the grounds or who we were up against as well so whether that’s another plan of attack I’m not sure.

Scott Boland celebrates a wicket during the WTC final.

“The fact that we’ve got six quicks and two spinners around the group at the minute leaves options open for no matter what they want to do. Josh is getting himself right for that first Test. I think he’s having a trundle tomorrow. Scotty, either way, he’s bowled throughout the summer and certainly this week. Definitely makes it a hard decision as well. So yeah, it’s a good problem to have.”

Starc said that ultimately the WTC title had to be Australia’s priority for the time being.

“First and foremost, we need to win a Test championship and then we’ll focus on the England side with the next five Tests – but yeah, as I said before we all the bowlers complement each other differently with different skill sets and the way we go about it which I think creates again it creates a good problem to have in terms of selection.”