The ongoing Test match at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot, which is the third Test of the series, followed the trend from the first two games by giving us another controversial moment. This time, it was the dismissal of Ollie Pope off a Mohammed Siraj delivery which has caused a divide and stirred up a debate.
In the final session on Day 2, England were cruising at 182-1, scoring at over 6 runs per over thanks to opener Ben Duckett's dominant display, who scored the third-fastest century by a visiting batsman in India.
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On the final ball of the 30th over of England's 1st innings, which was bowled by Siraj, the ball nipped back in, into Pope, whose missed the connection with the ball with an attempted flick. The ball hit Pope just above the kneeroll, and the players appealed for an LBW.
Umpire Joel Wilson turned down the appeal, but Siraj was persistent and convinced skipper Rohit Sharma to go for a DRS review.
To India's delight, the decision was overturned after the review with the screen showing three reds, thus breaking the dangerous 93-run stand between Duckett and Pope. The latter went back to the pavilion after a promising innings, scoring 39 runs off 55 balls.
However, it seems that the decision did not go down very well with former English players Michael Vaughan and Stuart Broad, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their opinions.
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'Looks high to me' - Michael Vaughan, Stuart Broad in disbelief after Ollie Pope's dismissal
Former cricketing stalwarts from England, Vaughan and Broad, took to X to voice their opinion on the controversial Pope dismissal, undermining the DRS technology after it showed three reds.
"Looks high to me for 3 reds," Broad tweeted.
Looks high to me for 3 reds! ❌ https://t.co/0lCQ5k3ROK
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 16, 2024
"That looked High to me...", Vaughan tweeted, echoing Broad's opinion.
That looked High to me …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2024
Many fans took to X and criticised the DRS technology, which is surely going to cause a conversation with contrary opinions from both sides.
The DRS booth adjusting path trajectory every time the ball hits an English pad #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/lo55Eh8v8y
— Liam Upe Glenn (@Pup177) February 16, 2024
Nobody can convince me India don't cheat the DRS ball tracking. Absolutely no chance that Pope wicket was out.
— Matty Nunn (@MNunny91) February 16, 2024
How the hell bowl doesn't bounce above the wicket from that length.
— SpidY (@spidy805) February 16, 2024
Absolutely unbelievable. DRS technology shouldn't be considered as ultimate for decision taking.#INDvsENGTest #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/KoLuTS7apz
What next for India?
After India posted 445 runs on the board in the 1st innings, England finished Day 2 at 207-2, scoring at nearly 6 runs per overs.
Duckett stayed unbeaten on 133 along with Joe Root, who scored 9 runs. Earlier in the day, Ashwin scalped his 500th Test wicket.
England will start Day 3 238 runs behind India's 1st innings, and the way they are playing, they might cross India's total within the first two sessions, unless the Indian bowlers come up with better plans.
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