Aussie cricket great SLAMS 'sad' decision after no-catch controversy

Aussie cricket great SLAMS ‘sad’ umpiring decision following no-catch controversy as Steve Smith is denied another crucial grab and South Africa escape SCG with a draw

  • The third Test between Australia and South Africa ended in a draw at the SCG
  • Steve Smith looked to have removed Heinrich Klaasen with a superb catch
  • But the third umpire ruled the ball had brushed the ground and gave him not out
  • Smith was also denied a seemingly legitimate catch by the TV umpire on Day 4
  • Australia won the three-Test series 2-0 and head to India in February
  • Click here for all your latest international sports news at Daily Mail Australia 

Aussie cricket great Kerry O’Keeffe lamented a ‘sad’ umpiring decision that dented Australia’s already slim chances of winning the third Test of the series against South Africa.

The hosts fell short in their bid to pull off a clean sweep of South Africa, with the Proteas hanging on to draw the rain-soaked third Test at the SCG.

Bowled out for 255 in their first innings and asked to follow on, South Africa survived 41.5 overs to be 2-106 when the game was called with 5.1 overs left. 

Steve Smith (centre) was denied a perfectly legitimate catch on Sunday at the SCG

Their second innings, however, was not without controversy.

Steve Smith looked to have removed Heinrich Klaasen in the 24th over after he edged a Nathan Lyon’s delivery low to slip. 

Smith appeared to have taken a brilliant catch, but the decision was sent upstairs. 

After several minutes, third umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled the ball had brushed the grass before reaching a fielder and gave Klaasen, who had survived an LBW shout on umpire’s call in the same over, not out.

It was the third time in the match that Kettleborough had overturned a seemingly legitimate catch.

On Saturday, Smith thought he had removed Dean Elgar with a brilliant low catch after the South African captain had edged Josh Hazlewood to slip. While replays showed the catch was taken cleanly, it appeared the ball may have touched the turf as Smith rolled his hand to bring it up.

On Day One, meanwhile, Kettleborough gave Marnus Labuschagne not out after the Aussie appeared to be caught at slip by Simon Harmer.

Sunday’s controversy left O’Keeffe dumbfounded. 

Smith appeared to pull off a superb catch at slip to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen in the 24th over

But third umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled the ball had brushed the grass 

‘I thought [with the] naked eye, he [Smith] got his fingers under the ball. but the more forensically you look, the more you can find,’ he said on commentary on Fox Cricket.

‘And so […] more conjecture over a catch.’

Fellow analyst Ian Smith noted in each of the three cases the evidence was far from clear-cut to justify a not out verdict.

‘In all those three cases, you ask yourself: has the right decision been made?,’ the former New Zealand Test star asked.

Smith (bottom) was denied a seemingly perfect catch when he looked to have removed Dean Elgar on Day Four only for the TV umpire to rule the ball had touched the grass

The Aussies were left frustrated as the DRS system denied them three LBW shouts on Sunday

O’Keeffe replied: ‘I’d have to say no […] which is sad isn’t it? I think he’s clearly caught that.’

Klaasen was later bowled by Josh Hazlewood on 35, before Sarel Erwee (42) and Temba Bavuma (17) carried South Africa to the close unbeaten.

The result left Australia as 2-0 series victors, but without guaranteed qualification in the World Test Championship final ahead of next month’s tour of India.

There, they will need to win or draw one of the four Tests in order to reach the final, or hope New Zealand do not lose both their home Tests against Sri Lanka in March.

Klaasen survived an LBW shout off Lyon but was eventually bowled by Josh Hazlewood

Australia had entered day five needing 14 wickets to win, before the Proteas produced their first real resistance of the summer following defeats in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Lower-order batters Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj offered the most fight, as they helped the tourists navigate through the first session of Sunday for the loss of one wicket.

And while Hazlewood (4-48) removed them both after lunch, South Africa’s top-order performed much stronger in their second innings.

The Aussie quick finished with 4-48 on his return to the Test team after a side strain

Pat Cummins briefly opened the door when Dean Elgar was caught behind down legside for the fourth time this series on 10, capping a horror tour as captain.

But aside from when Hazlewood removed Klaasen after tea, the tourists were resolute in defence.

Australia had three lbw reviews go against them on the basis of umpire’s call on the final day, but also had themselves to blame.

Sarel Erwee (left) and Temba Bavuma (right) carried South Africa to the close unbeaten

Australia wrapped up a 2-0 win over the Proteas in the three-Test series on Sunday

Four chances were put down, with Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Travis Head and Ashton Agar dropping catches.

Also notable was that Ashton Agar went wicketless in his return Test, after selectors opted to pick him as a second spinner ahead of Scott Boland as third quick.

Sydney’s rain also hurt Agar, with the pitch not breaking up as Australia expected.

Ultimately, the weather meant Australia’s first-innings 4-475 went to waste, after Cummins declared on Usman Khawaja midway through day four on 195 not out.




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