In a tense chase of 188 runs in the final innings of the second test match between India and Australia, the visitors were precariously placed at 74-3 when their captain Steve Smith was adjudged out lbw by umpire Nigel Llong.
The decision was a simple one as Smith was hit on the pads plumb in front of the stumps by a delivery from Umesh Yadav that kept very low after pitching. Steve Smith probably had a fair idea of his fate after the decision was given but since his team’s chances of chasing down the total heavily depended on him he had to contemplate a review.
The decision was a simple one as Smith was hit on the pads plumb in front of the stumps by a delivery from Umesh Yadav that kept very low after pitching. Steve Smith probably had a fair idea of his fate after the decision was given but since his team’s chances of chasing down the total heavily depended on him he had to contemplate a review. He walked towards the non-striker Peter Handscomb and had a few words with him before looking towards the Australian dressing room and was clearly seen gesturing for a call on whether he should go for a review or not.
The laws of the DRS does not allow any player to receive direct or indirect inputs from anyone off the field regarding the decision to refer the on-field umpire’s verdict upstairs. The umpire was quick to inform Steve Smith he was not allowed to do that and probably declined him the choice of the DRS referral after which Steve Smith started walking towards the pavilion.
This did not go down well with the Indian captain as well, as he rushed towards the umpire after witnessing the incident. Kohli later revealed in the post-match conference that he had seen the Australian players doing the same thing on two occasions when he was batting and brought this to the umpire’s and match referee’s attention.
While Steve Smith denied that he was looking for insights from the dressing room and said it was a “brain-fade” moment for him and he did not intend to seek help from elsewhere after being given out.
