Controversy erupted just after lunch on Day 1 at the SCG – and not for the first time this summer, South Africa were left feeling like they’d copped the rough end of the stick.
On 70 and playing beautifully, Marnus Labuschagne was drawn into an edge from quick Marco Jansen, the chance superbly snaffled low down at first slip by Simon Harmer… or so it seemed.
After a lengthy review, though, third umpire Richard Kettleborough thought differently, finding the ball had flicked the grass before Harmer had clutched it and overruling the on-field call of out.
The Proteas were left in disbelief at the call, with captain Dean Elgar immediately seeking out umpire Chris Gaffaney for an explanation.
“Are there fingers underneath? You can never get quite close enough to understand where the fingers are there,” former South African great Shaun Pollock said on Fox Cricket in the aftermath.
“He [Kettleborough] must be 100 per cent convinced that it carried.”
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh was of the view the Proteas could consider themselves hard done by.
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“The soft signal was out – that could go either way, let’s be honest.
“It was tough to tell. I thought from front on it looked probably out; from side on, there was enough doubt there. But once it was given out… they’ll count themselves a little unlucky, the South Africans.”
Speaking during a subsequent drinks break, Labuschagne’s non-striker Usman Khawaja, as expected, opined that his partner was right to be reprieved, jokingly claiming home-ground advantage helped his cause.
“Australia – not out!” he laughed.
“Umpire’s decision reigns supreme. Umpire had a good look at it. I thought there was doubt, I’m sure South Africa feel the other way.
“I know everyone’s a little bit biased, so it is what it is.”
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia speaks with Kyle Verreynne and Sarel Erwee of South Africa. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
‘Really surprised’: Proteas’ bizarre move questioned as play suspended
Shortly after Labuschagne’s reprieve, both sides headed off, with the umpires having determined the light at the SCG was insufficient to continue playing.
However, it was soon revealed that while the light was too dim for the Proteas to continue bowling the quicks, the umpires had offered Elgar the chance to continue play with spin pair Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.
Elgar, though, declined, with play duly suspended and an early tea called.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe was shocked by the call, citing Harmer’s impressive start with the ball and a bevy of middle-order left-handers for the off-spinner to target as reason enough for the Proteas to push on.
“The curious thing is that Dean Elgar declined to bring on the spinners. I thought Harmer looked the best, the most likely to take a wicket,” O’Keeffe said.
“There’s a number of left handers to come – [Travis] Head, [Matt] Renshaw, [Alex] Carey. It was an opportunity to get Australia in batting and getting them out, and he’s said ‘no, I was going to bowl the quicker men, we’ll go off.”
“I’m really surprised by that as well,” former great Michael Hussey added.
Recalled in place of fast bowler Lungi Ngidi with the SCG wicket expected to favour spin, Harmer had started brightly with the ball, with Usman Khawaja given out LBW off his bowling the first over after lunch.
However, Khawaja’s review would quickly spare him, the DRS finding the ball had hit his glove first.
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