England’s players were left fuming after third umpire Kumar Dharmasena controversially denied the hosts a stumping dismissal during the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord’s.
Chasing a 313-run target for victory, Australia was 6-104 in the 19th over when Sean Abbott missed a slower delivery from leg-spinner Adil Rashid, with England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith whipping off the bails.
The on-field umpires sent the stumping decision upstairs, with Dharmasena handing down a not-out verdict after consulting the slow-motion replays.
“I can see some part behind the popping crease at the time of the bails being broken,” Dharmasena said.
However, having seen the footage on the venue’s big screens, Rashid and his teammates were not impressed with the verdict. As boos echoed around the iconic venue, one of England’s players was overheard on the stumps mics saying: “That is so bad.”
Even Abbott himself seemed bemused at the outcome.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting agreed with the hosts, questioning whether any part of Abbott’s foot was grounded behind the crease.
“As far as I was concerned, I don’t think I could see anything behind the line,” Ponting said on Sky Sports commentary.
“I’m not sure, of what you can see of Sean Abbott’s boot, if you can say something is definitely grounded behind the line.”
BBC Test Match Special commentator Geoff Lemon continued: “I don’t agree with that call from the third umpire. There is some part of the shoe behind the crease, but it’s in the air! Sean Abbott will get away with this one.”
Abbott was dismissed a few overs later by Matthew Potts for 10, while Rashid finished with figures of 1-11 in 3.4 overs as England cruised towards a 186-run victory.
