Watch: Zak Crawley was given out in controversial manner on day four of the second India vs England Test in Vizag after a not out lbw decision was overturned on review.
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Chasing 399 for a record victory, England’s innings was being held together by opener Zak Crawley as three wickets fell with him at the other end in the morning session.
Having started day four at 67-1, England looked set to go into lunch four wickets down and in with a real shot at chasing down the target when Crawley, who was looking well set at the crease, was struck on the pad by a ball from Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep bowled a flat delivery from over the wicket to the right-hander which straightened just a bit and beat Crawley’s defence to hit him on the backfoot.
The on-field umpire gave it not out as it looked to be sliding down the leg side to the naked eye. India took a review to challenge the decision. Even as the first set of replays were shown, around half of the leg stump was visible when the ball made impact with Crawley’s pads, indicating that the ball would miss the leg stump with the angle.
However, to everyone’s surprise, ball tracking showed that the ball had not only hit in line, but was also going to hit the stumps, forcing the umpire to overturn his decision.
There was widespread disbelief among viewers, both India and England fans alike.
That ball from Kuldeep to Crawley only turned 2°. The first replay is always slightly to the left of the wicket to wicket camera and gives the impression that it might slide towards leg. Turning point in the game
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 5, 2024
Both Crawley & the umpire Erasmus should be livid with this DRS reversal.
2.5 stumps were visible on impact. There's no way the hawk eye should be returning 'hitting' on stumps. At best, it should have been umpire's call. India have caught a lucky break.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 5, 2024
How was that Crawley’s dismissal hitting the stumps, man? In real-time it looked missing the leg stump, and at best, it could’ve been umpire’s call. In the pre DRS era an on-field umpire giving that out would’ve been chastised for getting it wrong #INDvENG
— Ramachandra.M| ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ.ಎಮ್ (@nanuramu) February 5, 2024
That looked very off honestly. 3rd stump was almost visible when the ball hit the pads. Very hard to believe that impact was in line, not even in umpire's call.#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/tROKPnvt3k
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) February 5, 2024
Crawley scored 73 off 132 balls, following up from his 76 in the first innings.
In the over after Crawley’s wicket, England lost Jonny Bairstow as well, courtesy of a Jasprit Bumrah reverse swinging delivery, pushing them further back to 194-6.
