Moises Henriques' BBL catch angers cricket world after Mitchell Starc denied in Ashes

Controversy erupted in the BBL on Tuesday night after Moises Henriques was awarded a catch by the third umpire despite clearly appearing to ground the ball while landing. Chasing 155 for victory against the previously undefeated Sixers, the Stars had to overcome the contentious loss of Tom Rogers before hauling in the target with three balls to spare for their first win of the season.

With the Stars 0-28 after four overs, Rogers was given out for 20 when Henriques jumped high into the air to take a catch before landing heavily and hurting his shoulder. Replays showed that Henriques had planted the ball on the ground in his landing, which is technically not out under cricket's controversial clean catch rules.

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Mitchell Starc was controversially denied in the Ashes series earlier this year when the ball touched the ground while in his possession as he was sliding to complete a catch. The Henriques incident appeared a carbon copy of the Starc one, but the third umpire inexplicably gave Rogers out after the decision was sent upstairs by the on-field officials.

“If the ball hits the ground at any point in that process, I think he’s not out,” Brendon Julian said in commentary for Fox Cricket. “I would say that’s not out.”

Brett Lee added: “The ball’s definitely hit the deck … the ball clearly touched the surface.”

Third umpire Claire Polosak later explained her decision on the Channel 7 broadcast, but it left fans highly confused. “I did not have conclusive evidence to say there were not fingers under the ball,” she said, suggesting she thought Henriques had his whole hand between the ball and ground.

Stars coach Peter Moores told Fox Cricket: “The way the rules have been applied so far, it felt like it would be given as not out, because we’ve seen two or three examples of it. It obviously didn’t happen that way, so a bit frustrating in that respect.

“From what’s happened in the past, I would have expected him to stay out. It looked like fairly clear evidence. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

Melbourne Stars get off bottom of BBL ladder

Rogers was diplomatic after the game, saying he thought he should have been out anyway. "I actually think it's out," he admitted. "Moises controlled it and took it beautifully, but I suppose it's just a grey area with what's happened in the other game with Mitch Starc's one. It's obviously a hard one to be on the rough side of it, but at the end of the day I've hit a bad shot and he has taken a nice catch so it probably is out."

Former Victoria bowler Bryce McGrain took to social media to blast the decision, writing: "Wrong decision by third umpire. Flat out wrong. Have to get this stuff right for competition integrity - could cost a team's season, a players job / role in team. Always has to be “butter side up” - this landed butter side down."

Despite the controversy the Stars managed to recover to claim their first win of the BBL season in their fourth game. Beau Webster and Hilton Cartwright stabilised the Stars' innings after a collapse, putting on a 56-run partnership and getting the equation down to 34 from 22 balls.

Webster was caught at long-on for 35 off the bowling of Sean Abbott, but Cartwright was able to get the Stars home in the final over, finishing 47 not out. The win means the Stars are off the bottom of the ladder, overtaking the cross-town rival Renagades. The Perth Scorchers later beat the Renegades by 13 runs to leave them dead-last with one point after five games.

with AAP

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