Nathan Lyon survives because of fault in DRS, Ravi Ashwin protests against existing rules
Australia’s No 10 batsman Nathan Lyon made 34 on Day 2 of the ongoing Day/Night Test at Adelaide, his best score in Australia, on his way to a vital 74-run partnership with Peter Nevill which inched his team close to New Zealand’s first innings score.
However, all of Lyon’s 34 runs were made after he had been given a lucky reprieve when he had been yet to get off the mark, with the Kiwis 86 runs ahead and only the last two wickets to get.
At this crucial juncture in the game, the ball had got the faintest edges off Lyon’s bat as he attempted to swipe Mitchell Santner. Umpire S Ravi, the Indian representative in the historic day/night affair, adjudged Lyon not out even as New Zealand players claimed a catch.
The review was taken, but what transpired in the next few moments made clear what the problem with the DRS is, in its present form.
The problem of ‘no conclusive evidence’
HotSpot showed that the ball might have got the faintest of edges, but third umpire Nigel Llong ruled that there was not enough conclusive evidence to revert the decision. Snicko failed to confirm the matter either.
"There is a mark on the bat, I'm not sure where it is coming from," said Llong to on-field umpire S Ravi.
"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."
While all who could see the replay could see that Lyon should have been out, he was ruled not out because there was ‘not enough evidence’ to rule against the decision taken by the on-field umpire.
Lyon, who had actually started walking back to the pavilion, was called back, and he had no qualms in taking advantage of the blindness the current DRS rule is afflicted with.
Ashwin protests, then trolls fan
Ravi Ashwin, who has earned a free weekend with his superb showing to demolish South Africa within three days in the 3rd Test in Nagpur, commented on the injustice he had witnessed, saying that the interpretation of the DRS rules still leave a lot to be desired.
Do we need more to show that Nathan Lyon actually top edged that.Using technology is one thing,while interpreting 'IT' is another. #AusvNZ
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 28, 2015
An Indian cricket fan summed up the other prevalent opinion on the matter in a reply to Ashwin, to give sovereignty to the on-field umpire.
@ashwinravi99 why do you care bud they have officials there to figure it out ! Play your game #AusvNZ
— Aman Dhillon (@armdhillon) November 28, 2015
Ashwin replied to the fan, with the kind of aggression that has defined 2015 for him. The fan had received a reply he is probably never going to forget.
@armdhillon just to make sure I could listen to your wisdom.
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 28, 2015
Other fans across the world have also come out in criticism of Lyon and the umpires:
Really enjoying Nathan Lyon scoring all these runs after he was out.
— The Crowd Goes Wild (@CrowdGoesWildNZ) November 28, 2015