'Clearly made contact': Ashes controversy erupts over obscure rule
It was a dreadful fourth day for England in the first Ashes Test against Australia, but it could have been a lot worse.
The hosts’ only breakthrough before lunch on Sunday came when Ben Stokes got Travis Head caught behind after a well-made 51.
However there was some confusion about the legitimacy of Stokes’ delivery.
‘TRULY UNBELIEVABLE’: Steve Smith betters Bradman with insane Ashes feat
On-field umpires asked the third official to check whether Stokes had stepped on the return crease with his back foot - a no ball.
The delivery was eventually deemed legal, but there was widespread debate about whether or not it should have been.
Under law 21.5.1: “the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery”.
Replays showed the first impact Stokes’ shoe made with the ground was slightly inside the line, before his foot did make contract once he landed with his full body weight.
Former England captain David Gower suggested Head was hard done by in commentary.
“I have some sympathy with Travis Head because I’ve got a feeling as that foot landed it was in contact with the line,” Gower said.
“I’d say there’s a toe on the line. The first point of contact’s about a millimetre wide there.”
No ball? 🕵️
WATCH: @9Gem
STREAM: https://t.co/ARaHMPPTti #9WWOS #Ashes pic.twitter.com/fJxzUxBmAL— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) August 4, 2019
However others felt Stokes’ first point of contact was inside.
Former Australian Test quick Trent Copeland was adamant it should have been a no ball.
“Respectfully to the guys on air, I disagree with ‘first point of contact’ being ok,” Copeland tweeted.
“The wording is ‘lands’, he has not landed until his foot has finished coming down. Just my thoughts.”
Respectfully to the guys on air, I disagree with ‘first point of contact’ being ok. The wording is ‘lands’, he has not landed until his foot has finished coming down. Just my thoughts 🤷🏽♂️
Over now of course we move on, but Interesting for the cricket nuffies! 🤓 #Ashes https://t.co/FOQvzLNycw— Trent Copeland (@copes9) August 4, 2019
Former West Australian star Theo Doropoulos was with Copeland, however Dean Jones and Brad Hogg were happy with the legitimacy of the delivery.
Was Stokes’ delivery to Heady a back foot no ball?
Foot clearly made contact with return crease. #Ashes #EngvAus— Theo Doropoulos (@TheoDrop) August 4, 2019
@benstokes38 dismissal of Head, definitely out. First point of contact inside the line. Legal delivery. Move on with what looks to be another classical Edgbaston Test match. #ashes2019 #Ashes #ENGvAUS #AusvsEng #SkySport
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) August 4, 2019
When in doubt as to the wording of a law, the MCC's e-learning guide often helps. Here is the relevant bit re back-foot no-balls. "It is only the first placement that counts and if the bowler's feet subsequently slide or twist, this is not to be taken into account". #Ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/h7WwohZpZs
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) August 4, 2019
Fans were also divided.
After seeing the replay stokes is innocent of bowling a no ball. Probably should be in jail but innocent of not bowling a no ball. #Ashes19
— paul boyd (@pjamesboyd) August 4, 2019
Love the Aussies moaning about Stokes ‘no ball’. It was perfectly legitimate so stop moaning and deal with it.
— liam (@liam5_3) August 4, 2019
Are we just iognoring the fact Head’s wicket was a backfoot no ball by Stokes? #Ashes19
— Harry Thoman (@HarryThoman) August 4, 2019
Why wasn’t Stokes’s wicket delivery to Head deemed a no ball? #ashes pic.twitter.com/ZPlafcOvY8
— Bryan R Caine (@BryanRCaine) August 4, 2019
I believe Ben Stokes bowled a back foot no ball to get Head out
— Nathan Hedt (@HedtNathan) August 4, 2019
Smith and Head put Aussies in control
Steve Smith and Matthew Wade's centuries have given Nathan Lyon an ideal platform to bowl Australia to victory at Edgbaston, where England will enter day five in survival mode after being set a target of 398.
Smith's 142 and Wade's 110 were the highlights of a fourth day of dominance from Australia in Birmingham, where the visitors put themselves in the box seat for a comeback victory of epic proportions.
Tim Paine, whose quick-fire 34 compounded Joe Root's misery, eventually declared at 7-487 after forcing England to toil for 112 overs.
Lyon was handed the new ball and created some nervous moments but England survived seven tense overs to be 0-13 at stumps on Sunday.
Smith and Wade made the pitch look remarkably flat in a 126-run stand but Lyon should prove more potent and composed than counterpart Moeen Ali, whose figures of 2-130 included two no-balls for beamers.
"It's obviously going to be a day-five wicket and it started pretty dry from the outset," Smith said.
"There is quite a lot of rough that hopefully Gazza can exploit.
"Day-five wickets normally have some tricks in them. Hopefully we can see the ball going up and down a bit."
with AAP