During the intense battle between England and India in the five-match Test series, England’s Ben Stokes highlighted the team’s frustration with several umpire’s calls that went against them. One such contentious decision involved opener Zak Crawley during the Visakhapatnam and Rajkot Tests.
In Visakhapatnam, Crawley was given out after the ball-tracking system reversed the on-field decision, showing the ball clipping the stumps. Similarly, in Rajkot, another DRS review resulted in an ‘umpire’s call’ despite the ball seemingly missing the stumps. Stokes voiced his concerns after the match, acknowledging the frustration of being on the wrong end of such decisions.
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“An umpire’s call to push this test to a nail-biting finish. #AUSVNZ Some support from England to Australia for ✔️,” wrote Ravichandran Ashwin on his X account.
An umpires call to push this test to a nail biting finish. #AUSVNZ
Some support from England to Australia for ✔️
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) March 11, 2024
“We’ve been on the wrong end of three umpire’s calls this game and that is part of DRS. You’re either on the right side or the wrong side. Unfortunately, we’ve been on the wrong side. I’m not saying and never will say that’s the reason why we’ve lost this game, because 500 is a lot of runs. It is not something you pin down to result of the game. Sometimes when you are on the wrong end of those decisions it hurts but that is part of the game. You want them to go your way, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t,” Stokes expressed his frustration post-match.
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The series ultimately saw India emerging victorious with a resounding 4-1 scoreline after their triumph in the fifth Test in Dharamsala. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team showcased remarkable resilience after trailing 0-1 following their defeat in the series opener in Hyderabad. However, they bounced back emphatically, winning the subsequent four matches to clinch the series and ascend to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
The series was not devoid of controversy, with umpiring decisions sparking debates and adding layers of tension to an already fiercely contested encounter. Despite the setbacks, both teams exhibited commendable sportsmanship and competitive spirit throughout the series, showcasing the enduring allure of Test cricket on the global stage.
