The dismissal of West Indies batsman John Campbell caused controversy during their ongoing first Test against New Zealand, when the opener was adjudged caught at second slip, despite doubts surrounding the legitimacy of the catch.
The incident occurred in West Indies’ second innings as they followed on, off the third delivery of the second over. Campbell tried to poke at a Trent Boult delivery directed at him, which caught the outside edge and flew behind, where Tom Latham, at second slip, completed a tumbling catch.
It wasn’t clear if the catch taken was completely clean – the dismissal was referred to upstairs, even as on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Wayne Knights gave the soft signal as ‘out’. Replays suggested that Latham’s hands appeared to be beneath the ball, but it was unclear if a part of the ball was touching the grass just before settling into Latham’s hands.
At the end of it, TV umpire Chris Brown couldn’t find conclusive evidence to reverse the decision, and the call of the on-field umpires was retained.
Out or not out? Watch for yourself and decide:
https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1335050573733720065?s=08
Edged and TAKEN! Boult the bowler, Latham the catcher. The umpires had to check the catch, but not worries, Campbell is out 🏏
Watch LIVE on @sparknzsport | CLICK https://t.co/pUXerKJPnb#NZvWI #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/VA3W17a6pN
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 5, 2020
Clearly not a catch…day light robbery
— umXhosa (@UmntuWabantuu) December 5, 2020
Notout for sure. Ian Bishop was angry on all these inconclusive evidence thing to change on field decisions. It's a close call which on field umpire cannot see naked eye, should not be giving soft signals.
— Hassan 🇵🇸 (@CricketFanati17) December 5, 2020