Shubman Gill’s dismissal on the final ball of the second session became one of the biggest talking points on Day 4 of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) on May 10. The question on everyone’s lips was: why wasn’t the soft dismissal call made?
Shubman Gill’s edge off Scott Boland flew close to Cameron Green in the slips. The tall all-rounder dived towards his left to take a low catch. However, at first glance, there appeared to be some doubt over whether or not the ball touched the ground before Green took the one-handed catch.
Amid the uncertainty on whether the catch was clean, the matter was referred to television umpire Richard Kettleborough. Camera angles showed Green getting some fingers under the ball as took the catch, but it couldn’t be said conclusively if the catch was clean.
After an extended period, during which the catch was played and replayed from different camera angles, the television umpire ruled that the catch was clean. The decision was received with disbelief by Gill, who looked visibly disappointed as he trudged off the field of play.
However, the decision became a bone of contention due to the lack of application of the soft signal. The soft signal didn’t come into play as the regulation was removed from the ICC Playing Conditions at the start of June, with the new laws coming into play for the first time when England played Ireland at Lord’s a week ago. The decision to withdraw the soft-signal rule was taken by a committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has former India captain Sourav Ganguly as a member.
“The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken,” the ICC confirmed when the changes were announced in May. “Soft signals have been discussed at previous cricket committee meetings over the last couple of years. The committee deliberated this at length and concluded that soft signals were unnecessary and at times confusing since referrals of catches may seem inconclusive in replays,” Ganguly, who represents the ICC’s Men’s Cricket Committee, said earlier.
Meanwhile, India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli joined an elite list as he became the fifth Indian batter to score more than 2000 runs against Australia.
Virat’s unbeaten knock of 44 (60) at the end of Day 4 of the World Test Championship against Australia, kept Indian hopes of an unlikely win alive. ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar still holds the record for scoring the highest number of runs against Australia, at 3,630. At second is VVS Laxman with 2,434 runs.
The third position is held by the current Indian head coach Rahul Dravid, who has scored 2,143 runs against the Australian team. The experienced Cheteshwar Pujara is the fourth batter on the list with 2,074 runs. Virat Kohli is at fifth with 2,037 runs. Meanwhile, an eventful Day 4 of the WTC final came to a close with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane holding India’s fort.
At the end of the day’s play, India were at 164/3 in 40 overs with Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli at the crease at scores of 20(59) and 44(6).
At the fall of Shubman Gill’s wicket at the end of the second session, India bounced back with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara keeping the scoring rate intact by picking up boundaries at every possible opportunity.
In the 20th over, the Indian team suffered a major setback as Nathan Lyon dismissed Rohit, who looked to have found his groove, for a score of 43(60). Rohit tried to play a sweep but missed a straight ball.
In the next over Pat Cummins dismissed Pujara, who tried to play an unorthodox shot over the keeper’s head but ended up nicking it straight into Carey’s hands. From that point on, Rahane and Kohli took on the Australian bowlers and subdued them with their defensive skills as well as attacking shots. Their unbeaten 71-run partnership at the end of the day kindled Indian hopes of an unlikely win.
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