New Delhi:
Australia toiled in the field at the Oval on the third day of the Ashes Test and were not helped by Paine's misjudgements. Joe Denly, who went on to score 94, should have been out lbw to Mitchell Marsh when he was on 54 but Australia opted not to review the not-out decision. Later on the skipper, who is the team's wicketkeeper, failed to review a not-out decision against Jos Buttler after an appeal for lbw, with replays showing Nathan Lyon's delivery would have hit the stumps. Australian captain Tim Paine admitted that they were having a nightmare when it came to the review and he sarcastically remarked that he was going to enrol in an 'umpiring school' once the series is over.
This is not the first time that Australia has struggled when it came to the Decision Review System. In the past, they have often had a brainfade when it came to taking the DRS, be it in Ashes or any other series. However, in this marquee series, Australia have suffered more failures in the DRS ascompared to England.
Following the two missed opportunities at The Oval, Australia had missed a crucial chance in the Leeds Test. Nathan Lyon was bowling to Ben Stokes when England had neared victory and with just a couple of runs needed and one wicket remaining, Lyon fired a flatter delivery and Stokes missed the reverse sweep to be struck on the pads. However, the umpire refused to give it out and Australia were gutted. Replays showed the ball was hitting the stumps and Paine could not take the review as they had exhausted their reviews.
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In the 2013/14 series, during the Adelaide Test, Mitchell Johnson had trapped Michael Carberry LBW in the final ball of the day but the umpire did not give it out. Michael Clarke, the-then skipper, did not challenge the decision although replays showed the ball was hitting the leg stump.
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In the 2013 series held in England, there were two controversial instances of the DRS going against Australia. In the Trent Bridge Test, Stuart Broad had edged a delivery from Ashton Agar but he did not walk. Australia appealed and they could not take the review as they had exhausted all reviews. The fury of the Australians was targeted towards Broad and in the 2013/14 series Down Under, crowds viciously targeted Broad. In the same series, Usman Khawaja had not edged a spinning delivey from Graeme Swann but he was still given out. Despite taking the review, the original decision had not changed and he was given the marching orders.
Apart from the Ashes, one notable instance of Australia unable to use the DRS was during the Bangalore Test against India. Steve Smith was given out and he deliberated with Peter Handscomb while looking towards the Australian dressing room. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper objected and so did the umpire. Kohli had indirectly accused Smith of cheating while Smith admitted that it was a 'brain-fade'.
