Watch: Ravi Ashwin dismisses Ben Stokes in another controversial DRS decision

England started Day 2 with all-rounder Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler at the crease. They had managed 288 runs on the first day but with Ravi Ashwin picking three quick wickets towards the end of play the balance shifted slightly towards the hosts as they managed to send back half the English team back to the hut. The ball had started to turn in the last session and it was an ominous sign for batsmen from both the teams.

While England wanted to take the total closer and over 400 having won a crucial toss. Just in the second over of the second morning Ashwin who started the proceedings had Stokes caught in slips by skipper Virat Kohli. The off-spinner drew him forward with the ball and was successful in deceiving him, the ball went past the bat, kissed wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel’s gloves and then went towards Kohli who had to dive forward and did well to grab it. Indian felt they had him but the umpire didn’t think there was an edge, they took their time and opted for a referral.

Ashwin’s foot was well within the line and so the third umpire Shamshuddin proceeded to check if he could see sun light between bat and ball which is the basic parameter set to determine if they need to proceed further to the UltraEdge. It was very close and reviews couldn’t conclude if it had or hadn’t taken the edge off the bat. UltraEdge showed a big spike but what complicated it was the bat also hitting the ground at the same time.

Shamshuddin had a close look at it, a few felt that the decision might go in favor of the batsman since there was no conclusive evidence of there being a deflection. But the umpire believed the spike that appeared on the UltraEdge was also because the ball hit the outside edge of the bat and asked the on-field umpire Bruce Oxenford to correct his decision. He said he could see “Clean spikes mark”.

The Indians were celebrating since they had the big wicket very early in the morning but Stokes was clearly unhappy with the decision as in his opinion it was the case of bat hitting the ground and not the ball. Former England captain Nasser Hussain who was on air at that time felt Shamshuddin should have made the decision himself while he was seen asking for someone else’s help in determining and deciding.

Watch: Ravi Ashwin dismisses Ben Stokes in another controversial DRS decision:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uHxTXgVfH8

Watch the video in HD here