Controversy Surrounds Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Dismissal in Fifth Test
The dramatic dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal during Day 5 of the fifth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has sparked widespread debate. Jaiswal attempted a hook shot off a Pat Cummins bouncer, with replays showing a potential deflection off his glove to Alex Carey.
The Incident: What Happened?
Replays suggested the ball clipped Jaiswal’s glove before Carey completed a diving catch. The third umpire, Sharfuddoula, analyzed the side-on angle closely, noticing a possible change in the ball’s trajectory. However, Snicko did not display a conclusive spike, leading to questions about the evidence used for the decision.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Take
Sunil Gavaskar strongly criticized the decision, arguing that Snicko’s lack of evidence proved Jaiswal was not out.
“If you are using technology, then rely solely on technology,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports. “Snicko showed a straight line, which means no contact was made. This is an optical illusion, and the decision is absolutely wrong.
“If technology isn’t reliable, then don’t use it. It’s simple.”
Simon Taufel’s Perspective
Former Test umpire Simon Taufel disagreed with Gavaskar, stating that the third umpire made the correct call.
“In my view, the decision was out,” Taufel said on Seven. “The third umpire saw a clear deflection off the glove, which is conclusive evidence. Even though Snicko didn’t show audio confirmation, the visual deflection was enough to overturn the on-field decision.”
Ricky Ponting’s Opinion
Ricky Ponting supported the decision, stating that Jaiswal’s reaction indicated he knew he was out.
“It clearly hit the glove,” Ponting remarked. “Even Jaiswal started to walk before the Aussies reviewed it. Snicko didn’t pick it up, but the deflection was obvious. There’s no argument here.”
Ravi Shastri’s AnalysisFormer India coach Ravi Shastri offered a balanced view, suggesting that the third umpire should only overrule if the evidence is conclusive.
“Decisions like these are rare. The trajectory of the ball must clearly show contact, and that wasn’t evident here. Similar mistakes happened before, like KL Rahul’s dismissal in Perth,” Shastri said on Star Sports Hindi.
Why Did Snicko Fail?
Warren Brennan, whose company operates Snicko, explained why the technology did not detect a spike.
“Sometimes, there isn’t any noise when the ball brushes the glove, so Snicko shows no spike,” Brennan told Code Sports. “Only Hot Spot could have resolved this one, but it wasn’t available.”
A Divisive Decision
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal has divided opinions among cricket experts and fans alike. While some argue that visual deflection was sufficient evidence, others believe the absence of a spike on Snicko should have led to a not-out decision.
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