Advertisement

'Worse than useless': Viewers fume over fresh DRS 'disgrace'

andrew reid

Another day, another DRS controversy.

Fresh from a day two dominated by contentious calls from the Decision Review System, the theme continued on the third day of the second Test between Australia and New Zealand.

'MAKE THIS GUY PM': Aussie's masterclass decimates Kiwis

TOO FUNNY: Tim Paine's classic sledge amid DRS drama

MASSIVE: Steve Smith 'weakness' exposed during 'incredible' moment

The Aussies continued their domination over the Kiwis with a four-wicket opening session to leave the visitors reeling on 6/102 at lunch on the third day at the MCG.

However, it was another controversial moment involving the DRS that stole the headlines.

Aussie quick Mitchell Starc looked to have picked up the wicket of Mitchell Santner after a fierce short ball ricocheted off the batsman and into the hands of Travis Head.

The original decision from Marais Erasmus was not out, with the umpire suspecting it came off the arm of the Kiwi batsman.

However, replays painted a different story with evidence the ball had struck part of Santner's glove.

One angle actually showed the batsman’s wrist band move as the ball hit and sailed past.

Dar studied the footage for quite some time, before leaving many viewers perplexed with his not out decision.

Pictured on the right, Aussie captain Tim Paine was convinced Mitchell Santner was out.
Mitchell Santner survived after a controversial DRS call. Pic: Ch7/AAP

Commentating for Channel Seven, former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting was fuming - insisting it was a clear and obvious wicket for Australia.

"We could see clearly the sweat band was definitely moving on the glove ... It's absolutely plain as day," Ponting said in Seven's commentary.

"If he can't get that right, he shouldn't be doing it ... That is a very, very obvious decision to make.

"If you're third umpire, you have to be asking for all of that stuff. You have to have that zoomed in as much as you can to pick up the evidence."

Fellow commentator Damian Fleming, much like the numerous viewers on social media, agreed that it "looked pretty clear" that the ball had struck Santner's glove.

Already "disappointed" and "angry" at what he believed were errors in the ball-tracking technology on day two, Aussie captain Tim Paine remonstrated with umpires over the call.

An animated Paine argued the point with on-field umpire Erasmus, pointing at his own wicket-keeping gloves to argue where it had hit.

It came after Paine claimed on Friday night he had concerns over ball-tracking technology, after he was out lbw himself on day two.

Aussie quicks leaves Kiwis in tatters

Controversy aside, the Aussies will be thrilled with the position they got themselves in at lunch on the third day.

Pat Cummins claimed two wickets in two balls to kick off Saturday before James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc joining the party, with the Black Caps struggling in their reply to 467.

Cummins, already the world's leading wicket-taker in 2019, took 3-17 after removing both Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls early in the morning.

Fresh from claiming Tom Blundell's scalp on Friday evening, Cummins had Taylor edging to third slip Marnus Labuschagne who dropped it into Joe Burns' hands.

Nicholls then went next ball trapped lbw, failing to overturn the decision on review.

Pattinson's performance could create headaches for Australia's selectors.

In his first Test match back on home soil in almost four years after prolonged injuries, he had figures of 2-19 after Saturday’s first session.

With AAP