Opinion was divided after Shannon Gabriel was controversially denied the wicket of Dom Sibley on the fourth day of the first Test between England and West Indies at the Ageas Bowl after the TV umpire ruled he had bowled a no-ball.
Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket commentary, Nasser Hussain said he felt it was the right decision, but that if there was any doubt, TV umpire Michael Gough should have ruled in Gabriel’s favour.
“There has to be something behind the line,” he said. “Was there anything behind the line? No. No ball. Shannon Gabriel cannot believe it. Now there is the regulation that if it is tight, if it is very close, that the bowler should get the benefit of the doubt but the third umpire has felt that that is not close, there is clearly nothing behind the line. Michael Gough has said no ball and Shannon Gabriel is not pleased. He has history with no balls, he bowled them in the warm-up games. I reckon there was nothing behind the line there.”
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The Windies quick looked incensed by the decision, and channelled his frustration into nicking Sibley off down the leg-side two balls later. However, debate about the merits of the original decision raged on on social media, with Hussain’s two points echoed frequently.
That’s pretty clearly a no ball.
— Mark Gray (@saintlymark) July 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/hazharoon/status/1281946465968029700
Some questioned whether the crease line was distinct enough to come to a decision.
The line is not straight
— Sal (@Salionics) July 11, 2020
For others, getting out the magnifying glass and considering tricks of the light, it was a fair delivery, with no recourse to benefit of the doubt needed.
That’s a fair delivery. That’s the sun on the back of his boot not the other side of the white line.
— Buzz (@BuzzyWuleena) July 11, 2020
The call was the latest in a string to have gone against the West Indies, with five lbw decisions overturned in the tourists’ favour on the second day of the Test. What did you make of the decision?
