McGrath, Broad differ on Starc catch, MCC insists umpire was right

Thus, it was deemed by third umpire Marais Erasmus upon review of the catch that Starc was not in control of his own movement when the ball was brushed against the turf.

Former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath expressed his strong disapproval of the decision to rule out Mitchell Starc’s attempted catch of Ben Duckett as not out. England opener Duckett seemed to be dismissed for 50 as he mistimed Cameron Green’s delivery to fine leg. Starc, positioned at fine leg, managed to catch the ball just above the ground, but couldn’t maintain control of it while sliding on the turf. The replays showed the ball was scraped across the turf as Starc fell. Thus, it was deemed by third umpire Marais Erasmus upon review of the catch that Starc was not in control of his own movement when the ball was brushed against the turf.

Glenn McGrath and Stuart Broad

Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, McGrath said: “I’m sorry, that is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever seen. He has got that ball under control. I’ve seen everything this game has to offer. If that is not out, then every other catch that’s ever been taken should be not out. That’s a disgrace,” McGrath said.

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England seamer Stuart Broad, however, in his column for the Daily Mail, said that it was correct to rule it as not out as the ball should not make contact with the ground as per the rules. “From my understanding of the rule, the ball isn’t allowed to hit the ground,” wrote Broad. The game’s law-makers, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), quickly issued a clarification on the issue. “Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has ‘complete control over the ball and his/her movement’. The ball cannot touch the ground before then,” MCC wrote on Twitter.

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