‘How much evidence do you need?’: Fury at third umpire after ‘ludicrous’ Ashes call

Ben Stokes had to step in and separate a fuming Brydon Carse from the third umpire after a controversial call saw Jake Weatherald survive early on Day 5 of the fifth Test in Sydney.

Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Weatherald, who had been presented with one final opportunity to press his claims as Australia’s long-term starter at the top of the order, looked to have fallen for just 17 runs after England reviewed a not-out call.

England appeared to have struck gold with the review after there was a faint spike on DRS, but in a contentious moment third umpire Ahsan Raza decided against overturning the on-field decision.

That prompted a visibly frustrated Carse to confront the third umpire, with Stokes stepping in to try and defuse the situation before calmly trying to explain England’s position.

Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan was livid with the decision, declaring England were “hard done to there”.

“At the point the ball passes the bottom of the bat, there’s a murmur. Look at snicko,” he said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.

“The third umpire has felt there’s not enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision. How much evidence do you need?”

Meanwhile, former England spinner Graeme Swann said on TNT Sports that the third umpire “has to be held to account”.

“I think that is one of the most ludicrous decisions I have seen in a long time,” he added.

It wasn’t just former England players that took issue with the decision. Both Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh agreed on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage that Weatherald could consider himself lucky to still be at the crease.

“I don’t think it’s going to be reversed, I think the best thing Ben Stokes did there was quickly act and get his fast bowler away from the umpire,” Gilchrist said.

“Brydon Carse looked like he had a head full of steam up there.

“I can understand why England feel aggrieved.”

“They’re firing up, but it’s certainly not Jake Weatherald’s fault,” added Waugh.

“If it was out, why did it take them 14 seconds to send it upstairs?

“I think they were unsure.”

While Stokes was to be commended for trying to control Carse, the England fast bowler could come under scrutiny from the International Cricket Council for appearing to make contact with Raza as he appealed to the third umpire.