‘Bizarre’ umpire decision stuns cricketing world
Alex Carey has escaped a bizarre umpiring decision in Australia’s third Test against Pakistan after he was given out in the most peculiar circumstances.
The incident saw Carey given out in the 100th over by umpire Aleem Dar after Pakistan appealed.
A Hasan Ali slower yorker moved strangely off the crease, and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Carey immediately reviewed the decision, and Dar sent it upstairs.
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As the decision went to the third umpire, it was unclear whether it was given caught behind or lbw.
“Oh he’s given him,” commentator Rob Key said. “He’s going to review that straight away.
“It didn’t look like it was that close to the boot or the pad. It’s a bizarre piece of cricket really.
“Very good bowling, but let’s just find out.”
Upon investigating, it was found the delivery missed Carey’s bat and pads, popping up off the surface to just graze the stumps without knocking the bails off.
The ball also fell short of Rizwan behind the stumps, making Dar’s decision to give it out perplexing.
“That is one of the more bizarre passages of play, one of the more bizarre reviews,” Key said.
“Missed everything bar the stumps which it looks like it just hit, missed the bat, missed the pad, hit the foot mark or the crease and then just seamed because it was going straight on from middle stump. Somehow it’s missed everything.”
Dar’s officiating was also scrutinised for his soft signal of ‘out’.
“I don’t know how it goes from giving it out to this, a review with a soft signal of out. That seems a little weird for a catch,” commentator Mike Haysman said.
Adding to the confusion was to what the Pakistani players were appealing for.
“Just wondering what they were appealing for,” added Michael Kasprowicz.
“Because the ball actually bounced before it got to the keeper so as far as a noise and thinking it was a catch, it was never that.
“That was a confusing little section of play there.”
The incident resulted in a dot ball, Carey continuing on with Australia positioned on 5-271.
He was later dismissed lbw for 67 by Nauman Ali.
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