‘Looking for controversy’: Former stars call for calm after senior Indian official slams Jaiswal decision

A trio of former Test stars have called for calm after one of India’s most senior administrators criticised the third umpire over the controversial dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal on day five of the Melbourne Test.

Jaiswal’s wicket was a flashpoint on dramatic final day at a heaving MCG as Australia secured a famous 184-run victory over India in front of a record day-five crowd of 74,362 to take a 2-1 series lead heading into the final Test in Sydney.

India’s new batting prince had his 310-minute vigil brought to an end when video umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat gave him out caught behind off Pat Cummins’ bowling, despite Ultra-edge technology – also known as Snicko – not registering a spike as the ball passed his bat and gloves.

Adamant they had their man, the Australians almost immediately sent umpire Joel Wilson’s not out call upstairs, and were vindicated by footage that showed a clear change in the ball’s trajectory off the bat.

A shattered Jaiswal remonstrated with the on-field umpires after being given his marching orders, but both captains agreed the right decision had been made.

However, in comments that have raised eyebrows and could spark further tension between the nations, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla lashed out at the decision on X.

“Yashasavi Jaiswal was clearly not out,” Shukla posted to more than 300,000 followers. “Third umpire should have taken note of what technology was suggesting. While over ruling field umpire, third umpire should have solid reasons.”

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor said on Tuesday morning there should have been no controversy whatsoever over the call.

“People who are finding controversy are looking for controversy,” Taylor said on Nine’s Today program. “Australia took 10 genuine wickets yesterday and thoroughly deserve their win.”

Fox commentators Mark Waugh and Michael Vaughan, both accomplished Test batsmen in their day, agreed that Shukla had got it wrong.

“Let’s get this straight once and for all. Jaiswal was clearly out,” Waugh wrote on X. “It was a very obvious deflection off the bat/glove. Not sure how umpire missed it in the first place. Snicko missed it maybe as it was a very soft glancing blow but at the end of the day right decision was made.”

Vaughan also wrote on X: “Seriously ... all this has to stop ... It was OUT ... all decisions yesterday were the correct ones ... Australia were just better this week.”

In an interview with Indian news agency ANI, Shukla implored the International Cricket Council to get involved.

“The technical committee of the ICC should look into this and find a solution,” he said. “When the decision of the ground umpire is changed there have to be strong reasons to do so.”

Warren Brennan, the founder of BBG Sports, which operates Ultra-edge technology, told this masthead his technology was not best used for glancing shots such as Jaiswal’s, while there is a lack of confidence from players on the system.

Jaiswal questions the on-field umpires after being given out.Credit: Justin McManus

“I think it was clear that he hit it,” Cummins said. “Heard a noise, saw deviation, it was absolutely certain that he hit it. As soon as we referred it, you could see him [Jaiswal] clearly drop his head and basically acknowledge that he hit it.

“On the screen, you could see that he hit it. Ultra-edge, I don’t think anyone has complete confidence in. It didn’t really show much but, fortunately, there was enough other evidence to show that it was clearly out.”

India captain Rohit Sharma voiced his frustration over the unreliability of technology, though Jaiswal was fortunate when, with his score on just 31, Australia were denied his wicket by an lbw review that showed the ball hitting the stumps but was deemed an umpire’s call.

Rubbing salt into India’s wounds, Akash Deep was given out moments after Jaiswal’s departure to a bat-pad catch that produced a spike on Snicko and a cherry mark on the player’s bat.

“I don’t know what to make of that because the technology didn’t show anything,” Rohit said of Jaiswal’s wicket. “With the naked eye, it seemed that he did touch something.

“I don’t know how the umpires want to use the technology. In all fairness he did touch the ball but again it’s about the technology which we all know is not 100 per cent.

“Like I said, we don’t want to really look too much into that. More often than not, we are the ones falling on the wrong side of it ... I feel we’ve been a little unfortunate.”

Brennan explained why his technology had not detected a touch from Jaiswal’s shot despite the vision strongly indicating contact with the bat or gloves.

“On those glance-type shots, there is rarely any noise,” Brennan said. “Glance shots are not Snicko’s strength, whereas it is for HotSpot.”

HotSpot, which detects heat marks left from the ball making contact with bat or gloves, would have been more helpful in confirming Jaiswal’s dismissal, but is not in use this series.

India great Sunil Gavaskar suggested there could have been an “optical illusion” in Jaiswal’s case, but Ricky Ponting was emphatic the opener was out.

“If the evidence of the technology is not to be taken, why have it at all?” Gavaskar said on Seven. “That is something that would definitely be the query as far as the Indians are concerned.

“Yes, it looked as if it might have gone off the glove but there can be an optical illusion. Often we see when the ball is brand new that a ball goes near the bat’s edge and then moves away.”

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