Axar Patel was given out leg before wicket on day three in India’s second innings despite a review after he missed a defensive push against Moeen Ali.
What seemed like a straightforward dismissal turned controversial after Twitter users spotted that the UltraEdge in the DRS call showed a flat line even as the ball hit the back leg of Axar.
Axar played all around an arm ball from Moeen and got struck on the back leg. Umpire Virender Sharma did not take too long to raise his finger, but Axar, who possibly felt he had inside-edged the ball, decided to review the call after a brief chat with Virat Kohli.
Ball tracking projected the delivery would hit the stumps on umpire’s call, sending Axar on his way. But a few Twitter users spotted a possible technical glitch. While checking the UltraEdge, there was no spike as the ball went past Axar’s bat, but it also showed no spike when the ball hit his pads.
Observed by @Loosing_Touch: the DRS for Axar said he didn’t edge and was LBW. But it also didn’t register when the ball hit his leg. Microphone asleep, or would it normally not pick up that second noise? pic.twitter.com/RoqFABfL56
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 15, 2021
Surely there was an issue with the UltraEdge? It showed a flat like even when the ball hit Axar’s leg. #INDvsENG
— Sripad (@falsewinger) February 15, 2021
was the ultraEdge faulty during Axar’s dismissal? It was a straightline even when the ball hit the pad, or was it a broadcast mistake? #AskStar #ENGvIND
— Nilesh (@IsoCyanide_7) February 15, 2021
Axar appeared to be wearing a thigh pad that could have absorbed the sound, with the impact of ball and pad often showing a more muffled spike in any case, but the completely flat line points more towards a technical glitch with the mic.
The host board are responsible for providing DRS technology for World Test Championship matches. The BCCI have been approached for comment.
Yeah I did see that tiny movement, but it wasn’t what you’d normally see for contact. Sometimes the positioning of the mic means it misses a sound though.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 15, 2021
It does, but being hit on the flesh of a muscle would absorb more sound.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 15, 2021
He was wearing noise-cancelling pads.
— Patrick Van Der Werf (@Patrickothewerf) February 15, 2021
Watch the dismissal here:
