On Wednesday, the first T20I between Australia and India which was played at the Gabba, Brisbane, was a humdinger of a game, but it was the hosts who prevailed over Virat Kohli’s men by just four runs. India was chasing a target of 174 in 17 overs (DLS Method) as the heavy downpour interrupted during the first innings. Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s 42-ball 76 and Dinesh Karthik late-innings rush (30 off 13 balls) took the visitors within a striking distance of victory but they lost.
The match saw quite a few high performances from both the teams, but there was also a moment of controversy which set the social media abuzz. It was the ‘hit wicket’ instance in the ninth over of India’s innings which saw the Aussie wicket-keeper Alex Carey facing a backlash.
It so happened in the first delivery of the over which spinner Adam Zampa was bowling. The ball was hit on the offside by KL Rahul and it was seen that one of the bails lit up and fell down. The first impression was that the batsman’s leg hit the stumps and the fielding side claimed his dismissal. The Australian wicket-keeper looked unsure of the actual thing.
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The matter was hence referred to the third umpire. In the replay, it was clearly seen that Rahul’s bat or backfoot was nowhere near the stumps and the bails were dislodged by the touch of the wicket-keeper’s gloves. The ball was deemed illegal as the umpire called it a no-ball and Rahul took a couple in the free hit that followed next. However, the Australians had the last laugh in the very next ball as Alex Carey stumped Rahul out and the decision was confirmed by the third umpire.
This was a key moment in the series opener #AUSvIND https://t.co/mKPxc6Rm6R
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2018
The Twitterati was, however, furious with the ‘hit wicket’ controversy and trolling Carey, who made his international debut this year itself, even calling him a “cheat”. They also criticized Australia, a side which of late has come under heavy criticism over matters related to ethical conduct on the field.
Here are some of the reactions that the Twitterati came up over Carey’s act:
https://twitter.com/Heyankit_mufc/status/1065449323276713985
And earlier when he realised the umpire was going to call a wide, needlessy appealed for a caught-behind when everyone knew there were miles between bat and ball. #AlexCarey, #AUSvIND https://t.co/GpTaPkOojq
— Rajkrishnan Menon (@RajkrisMenon) November 21, 2018
Alex Carey – elite honesty!
— ACE Performance Coaching (@ayzaz78) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/youwillconfuse/status/1065304359968227328
@cricketcomau Please ask your team to play fair, pulling down bail by hand and appealing for hit wicket. #alexcarey
— Nikhar Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@iamnikhar) November 21, 2018
@CricketAustrala @sanjaymanjrekar @gilly381 is #alexcarey following the path of #dave & #smith best wicket keeper of the year
— tony joseph (@tonyjoseph3) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/srinath245/status/1065256274986590208
https://twitter.com/amrendrakumar02/status/1065224299949084673
Match summary :
#1 – Zampa for ballon d'Or.
#2 – Stoinis is the Marcelo of Australia.
#3 – Tye joins Smith and Warner on account of suspension.
#4 – Alex Carey for Oscar. #AUSvsIND 🇦🇺 💛#AUSvIND
— Karthik (@karthikwritez) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/gentlemanraj07/status/1065216630341468161
What a game!!
Team Australia had to take help of DLS to win!!
Saw Alex Carey hit stumps n appeal for hit wicket too with other #aussie ways of cricket 😉
Interesting series this will be.#AUSVIND— Anup Baheti (@bahetianup) November 21, 2018
*When Alex Carey hit the bails by his gloves and appealed for a hit wicket* pic.twitter.com/zTWkGgvxIe
— Vishal Kumar (@HaramiNaujawan) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/BoredCricketFan/status/1065205988561575936
#Brainfade moment for Australia's wicket keeper Alex carey! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/d8CbrlUuGx
— Pra Dee Paa 🇮🇳 (@Pra_Dee_Paa) November 21, 2018
