This was a bad call by the umpire … and just as glaring a mistake by Australia’s opening pair.
Second-Test opener Jake Weatherald on Friday was dismissed LBW by England quick Brydon Carse during the early overs of Australia’s second innings in the third Test.
But the left-hander can consider himself unlucky, with the ball not pitching in line with the stumps.
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Carse and his England teammates appealed vociferously for LBW, with the umpire taking ample time to make his decision before giving Weatherald out.
“That’s much better from Carse – it’s been given!” Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha said.
“Did it pitch in line? That’s going to be the question that Weatherald asks.”
Weatherald and opening partner Travis Head had a brief discussion in the middle of the wicket around whether the umpire’s decision should be reviewed. But Weatherald turned and headed for the Adelaide Oval pavilion, despite the Aussies have three reviews available.
“Has it pitched in line? It’s tight, I would’ve referred that,” former Aussie quick Brett lee told Fox Cricket.
“I would’ve gone upstairs.
“And you think about where he lands on the crease, Brydon Carse. He starts wide of the crease. It would’ve been tight.
“I reckon that should’ve been referred. I think it’s pitched outside leg to the naked eye.”
A ball-tracking technology replay then showed Carse’s delivery indeed pitched outside leg stump. If the Aussies had reviewed, the umpire’s call would’ve been overturned to not out.
“There you go. That’s a bad blue,” former Australian batter Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket.
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“There’s always a risk when a right-armer is bowling over the wicket to a left-hander that it’s going to pitch outside (leg stump).
“That’s a big mistake.
“Probably a little bit of inexperience. I think if he’d played 30 Tests, he would’ve gone upstairs there.”
Guha added: “Huge mistake. He walked down to have a chat to Travis Head and even after that conversation, he still decided to walk off and not review.”
Lee also pointed out how wide of the pitch Head was at the non-striker’s end, which would’ve make it tough for Head to judge the line of the delivery.
“If you look at where he (Weatherald) gets hit, it’s very hard for him (Head) to make that (call),” he said.
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