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'Clearly made contact': Ashes controversy erupts over obscure rule

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor

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.

Ben Stokes' back foot was perilously close to the return crease, which would be a no ball. Image: Channel Nine
Ben Stokes' back foot was perilously close to the return crease. Image: Channel Nine

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.”

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.”

Former West Australian star Theo Doropoulos was with Copeland, however Dean Jones and Brad Hogg were happy with the legitimacy of the delivery.

Fans were also divided.

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.

Steve Smith and Matthew Wade both made centuries on day four. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Steve Smith and Matthew Wade both made centuries. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

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