Mitchell Starc Catch Controversy
Australia is yet again embroiled in a catching dispute. Just three weeks after Cameron Green took a contentious grab to dismiss Shubman Gill in the WTC Final, Mitchell Starc has joined the fray. The pacer made an imperfect catch to remove Ben Duckett during the ENG vs AUS Lord’s Ashes Test, only for the umpires to rule in favour of the hosts.
The Fourth Innings
England’s score was 4-113 when the fourth innings began. Ben Duckett, who had just achieved his seventh Test fifty, attempted to play a shot over the slips but ended up guiding the ball towards Mitchell Starc at deep fine leg.
The Catch
The 33-year-old Starc made an outstanding catch close to the boundary rope following Duckett’s shot. He celebrated with his teammates while Duckett reluctantly made his way to the changing room. Nevertheless, the on-field umpires, with the assistance of the third official Marais Erasmus, decided that the grab was not clean and sent Duckett back to the crease. Replays indicated that the ball had brushed Starc’s glove as he was attempting to take the catch.
Conclusion
The Mitchell Starc catch controversy has once again raised questions about the reliability of on-field umpires and their ability to make quick and accurate decisions. Despite the replays suggesting that the ball had made contact with Starc’s glove, the umpires chose to uphold their original decision and call Duckett back to the crease. This incident has highlighted the need for clear guidelines and protocols to ensure that such contentious catches are dealt with in a more consistent manner.