Simon Taufel: The fourth Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ended in drama as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal on Day 5 became the center of controversy. Battling to save the match, the young left-hander fell for 94 after a contentious Decision Review System (DRS) call, sparking widespread debate.
The Incident: Jaiswal Falls to DRS Controversy
In the 71st over, Pat Cummins delivered a short ball down the leg side. Jaiswal attempted a pull shot but appeared to glove it to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who dived forward to complete the catch. On-field umpire Joel Wilson ruled it not out, but Cummins immediately opted for a review.
Third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat overturned the on-field decision despite Snicko showing no spike when the ball passed Jaiswal’s bat. Instead, Saikat relied on visual evidence of a deflection, ruling the batter out. Jaiswal was visibly upset, arguing with the umpires before reluctantly walking off.
"I can see the ball has made contact with the gloves. Joel, you need to change your decision."
And with that, Jaiswal is out! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/biOQP4ZeDB
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 30, 2024
Simon Taufel Supports the Decision
Former ICC Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel backed Saikat’s call. Speaking to Channel 7, Taufel said:
“In my view, the decision was out. The third umpire made the correct decision in the end. With the technology protocols, we have a hierarchy of redundancy. When there is a clear deflection off the bat, there is no need to rely further on other technology.”
Explaining the Snicko Anomaly
Warren Brennan, whose company operates Snicko, explained why no spike appeared despite the apparent edge.
“That was one of the glance shots where there isn’t any noise, so Snicko only picks up ambient sound,” Brennan told Code Sports. “Probably only Hot Spot could have resolved that one.”
The Fallout and Jaiswal’s Frustration
Jaiswal’s dismissal ended India’s hopes as he was the last specialist batter. Australia capitalized on the breakthrough to secure a victory. The incident has sparked debates about the reliability of DRS and the role of technology in such crucial moments.
While Taufel called the decision correct, the controversy is likely to linger, casting a shadow over an otherwise thrilling Test match.
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