Doug Bracewell to Adam Voges: The no-ball that wasn't
New Zealand will feel robbed after a Doug Bracewell delivery which got Adam Voges bowled was adjudged to be a no-ball on day one of the first Test against Australia at Wellington on Friday. The incident occurred right at the end of day’s play, with Australia looking to be in control of the match.
On the 4th delivery of the final over of the day, Voges misjudged an in-swinger from Bracewell and just shouldered the delivery. The Australian batsman was bowled and the Kiwis were delighted, thinking that they had picked up a crucial wicket at an important juncture of the match.
A few seconds later, though, they were devastated as they saw English umpire Richard Illingworth signal a no-ball. But TV replays showed that Bracewell clearly had some part of his foot behind the line as seen in the tweet below.
And here's the delivery that bowled Voges and was then called a no ball... #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/2iVICWxbAu
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 12, 2016
The 25-year-old Kiwi bowler endured an unlucky day overall as he had earlier seen Australian skipper Steven Smith dropped off his bowling. Smith would go on to score 71 to add more misery on the hosts.
Australia ended day’s play on 147/3, just 36 runs behind New Zealand on what was a good day for the bowlers. Earlier in the day, the hosts were bowled out for 183 with skipper Brendon McCullum getting out for a duck in his 100th Test.
Bracewell to Voges was a square-up for Vettori's no-ball to Warne on 99! #NZvAUS
— Kerry O'Keeffe Show (@kerryoshow) February 12, 2016
This is not the first time that controversy has marred a cricket match involving the two Trans-Tasmanian rivals. Just last week, in the ODI series, Mitchell Marsh was given out after the umpires had seen a replay on the big screen at the stadium.
In November last year, in the first-ever day/night Test at Adelaide, Nathan Lyon had survived a DRS decision after he had clearly edged the ball. The third umpire in that instance, Nigel Llong had said: "There is a mark on the bat, I'm not sure where it is coming from.
"I can't definitely say he's hit this. Okay, I'm pretty sure I have no conclusive evidence to rule this out. I'm going back on-field. Ravi, there is a mark on the bat but I have no conclusive evidence to give that out, stick with your decision."
That decision changed the course of the match as Lyon went on to add 34 runs and give the momentum to Australia who would go on to win the match.