'Abysmal': Shocking call rocks England fightback
The umpires have been under the pump during the Ashes series after a range of mistakes throughout the first three Tests but Chris Gaffney’s howler at Headingley had many fans fuming.
Australia thought they had their key man, Joe Root, out as England rallied at 134-2 during a hard fought Day Three contest.
Josh Hazlewood appealed when the ball struck Root on the pads in front of the stumps.
Gaffney gave Root out LBW.
“He’s given him. I think there might have been an inside edge there,” Shane Warne said on commentary.
Root immediately reviewed the decision.
Much to the anger of the restless Headingley crowd, DRS showed Root had caught a thick inside edge which had rocketed the ball onto his pads.
The decision was overturned and the Aussies were not able to capture the wicket of the English captain before the end of play.
Warne led the chorus of frustration looking at the replay.
“There are plenty of words that can describe that decision,” he said.
#Ashes Reviewing my opinion on whether Chris Gaffaney is a good umpire or not. Absolute shocker #ENGAUS
— Peter Wood (@gallowgate_pete) August 24, 2019
The initial decision to give Joe Root out lbw to a ball he’s middled into his pads might be as poor as any I’ve seen in test cricket...thank goodness for DRS absolutely what it was brought in for but what was the umpire doing?? #Ashes
— Mark Robbo Robinson (@RobboGTFC) August 24, 2019
Umpire Gaffney got something on tomorrow? In a rush to get finished? #ENGAUS #ashes
— Stuart Cunningham (@stucun) August 24, 2019
That’s an abysmal trigger finger from the umpire. Couldn’t have gotten a higher edge if he tried. #Ashes #ENGAUS
— 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑒 (@SmushS) August 24, 2019
How did the umpire think Root was out there 😂
— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) August 24, 2019
Joe Root resistance
An unbeaten Joe Root has stalled Australia's push for an Ashes-retaining victory in Leeds, where England reached 3-156 after being set a target of 359 as both teams talked up their chances.
Root, on a pair and under immense pressure from calls for him to step down as skipper after England were skittled for 67 on day two, produced an unbeaten captain's knock of 75 on day three of the third Test.
'Can't do anything right': England's humiliation hits new low
Saturday's Root-led rally, which leaves his team requiring a further 203 runs to make history, started at 2-15 after Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins quickly removed England's openers.
Root and Joe Denly (50) shared a 126-run partnership, raising the Headingley crowd's hope of a series-levelling win for England.