Veteran Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has added that the team would seek clarity from World Cup match officials about the controversial manner the way a couple of decisions went against them when DRS was used in the match against South Africa. Steve Smith was adjudged lbw to Kagiso Rabada, which shocked many fans and critics. Smith, himself, was shocked as he felt the ball should have been missing the stumps as well. Later, Marcus Stoinis was given caught down the leg and this time too there was confusion over whether his hand was in contact with the bat when the ball hit his glove as well.
Speaking after Australia’s bizarre 134-run defeat in the 2023 World Cup match in Lucknow on Thursday, October 12, Labuschagne added that there was some uncertainty over the manner of dismissals.
He said on Stoinis’ dismissal: “The umpires really did not know what was going on. They saw what we saw so it wasn’t too much going on. For me it looked on the field… his hand was off the bat, it hit the glove and because it didn’t go to the side on angle Marcus and I were just asking have they checked. Because they just checked the spike from the front on. They didn’t get the close up, zoom in of the side, that we had and that just looked like there was clear daylight between the two gloves and handle. But once again I have been in the third umpire’s room and the screen is big, much clear than me watching from the middle in the pixelated screen. There was some talk that maybe it hit the handle of the bat. I don’t know.”
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About Stoinis’ dismissal, third umpire Richard Kettleborough concluded that although Marcus Stoinis’ right glove was off the bat handle, it was in contact with the left one as well, with which he was holding the bat at that time. Some TV angles, however, hinted otherwise as well.
“The hand’s connected to his top hand, therefore in contact with the bat and we’ve got a clear spike,” Kettleborough said, while reversing the original decision of not out.
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Like Steve Smith, Stoinis also expressed shock over the decision as he walked back as well. Putting aside the controversial dismissals, Australia had a poor show with both the bat and in the field. They dropped multiple catches and were sloppy overall also. South Africa posted 311/7 batting first and then bowled out Australia for 177 as well.
Marnus Labuschagne added: “I’d consider us one of the top sides and it’s disappointing that we haven’t competed in the last two games. But we’ve got to make sure we’re learning from these scenarios… We’ve got to get better and we’ve got to make sure that we come back stronger for the next fixture.”
