OUT or NOT OUT! Steve Smith gets lucky as Third Umpire adjudges him not out in the closest call in fifth Ashes Test

MCC clarified that Steve Smith was rightfully adjudged not out.


OUT or NOT OUT! Steve Smith gets lucky as Third Umpire adjudges him not out in the closest call in fifth Ashes Test

Steve Smith survives a close runout call (Image via Twitter)

Australia batter Steve Smith got lucky big time as he survived the closest runout calls in the fifth Ashes Test. Smith was almost gone as he tried to sneak in a double but the Third Umpire, Nitin Menon saved him. Although Jonny Bairstow broke the stumps before Smith was back in his crease, the Australian was adjudged not out. 

The reason was the bails were not dislodged completely by Bairstow. As Steve Smith tried to sneak in a double after tucking the ball towards mid-wicket, he was running at the danger end with England’s substitute fielder George Ealham charging at the ball. Ealham got everything right and threw the ball perfectly.

YouTube video

Jonny Bairstow, meanwhile, did a good job of dislodging the bails (as it seemed at first look). Steve Smith also thought he was out but only not to be. The on-field umpires sought help from the TV Umpire who took a lot of time before deciding that the batter was not out.

In multiple frames shown during the replay, it was seen that one of the bails had not come off completely on the first attempt from the wicketkeeper. However, by when it was completely out of the groove, Smith had made it back. As the decision of NOT OUT popped up on the big screen, there was booing all over the Oval

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Fans divided over the decision of Steve Smith being adjudged not out

steve smith runout
Was Steve Smith not out (Image via Twitter)

In no time, the video of the entire episode went viral on social media attracting loads of different reactions. While some felt the Third Umpire made the right decision, some were not happy about it. 

Check out the reactions. 

https://twitter.com/Ashishgupji/status/1684947926601302016?s=20
https://twitter.com/acochrane_93/status/1684952518600638464?s=20

It is worth noting that for a batter to be adjudged run out, the stumps must be completely broken, meaning one of the two bails must come off completely off the three stumps i.e. the groove. 

In this case, none of the bails were completely off the groove when Bairstow broke the stumps. 

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