Fight Decision Review System (DRS) call for a third referee Richard Kettleborough on the second day of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide drew widespread criticism from fans, commentators and the Indian team. The incident happened at the end of the first session when the Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin appeared to trap the Australian batter Mitchell Marsh pound
The 3rd arbitrator cited inconsistent evidence
Ashwin was confident in his appeal, convinced the captain Rohit Sharma to review the referee’s decision not to leave the field. Early replays showed Marsh attempting to defend the delivery as he advanced on the track and the ball hit the side of the catch before the inside edge was visible. However, the third umpire cited flimsy evidence based on Snicko and immediately upheld the fielding call without continuing to track the ball.
Repetitions show a different story
Later replays, including the extended version, suggested that the ball actually hit Marsh’s court first. The disclosure left commentators wondering why the third umpire did not use ball-tracking technology to confirm the trajectory and likelihood of the ball hitting the stumps.
The sudden decision-making process has irked fans and cricket pundits alike as they questioned the lack of thorough analysis at such a critical juncture. The Indian camp was visibly displeased and social media was abuzz with reactions condemning the third umpire’s ruling.
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Cricket fans expressed their anger on various platforms, calling the decision “unprofessional” and “a mockery of DRS”. Some highlighted the inconsistency of using DRS protocols and demanded that the system be revised to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Here’s how fans reacted:
I have seen some amazing incidents in cricket but that dismissal of Marsh was as amazing as any!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 7, 2024
March was the first pad. An Indian batsman does not survive this review from the third umpire.
— Prasanna MR (@mrprasanna23) December 7, 2024
Mitchell Marsh was lbw to Ashwin but the umpire didn’t give him out, The ball hit the Pad first and then hit the bat 3rd, not what is the meaning of technology in cricket when you don’t give the right decision?#AUSWIND #TeamIndia #Pushpa2TheRule pic.twitter.com/Qvwzm3ETdv
— paritoshtechnical.techno (@paritoshtechni1) December 7, 2024
The march was ultimately not due to the referee’s call on impact.
But this appalling use of technology by the Fox broadcaster and the hasty decision-making by the 3rd DRS umpire in 2 back-to-back Tests raises serious doubts.
If this doesn’t improve, prepare for Deja-Vu from the 2008-09 BGT. pic.twitter.com/qLBGy4QmNL
— Gss🇮🇳 (@Gss_Views) December 7, 2024
#IndvAus Debate!!! Debate!!
It looked like PAD 1..
Ashwin went to DRS..
3rd umpire Kettleborough says Battle is 1st..
Funny if it was an Indian batsman.. it would have been a 1st pad..
The slo mo clearly shows PAD 1.. March batsman.. pic.twitter.com/J5kdDKmo9x
— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) December 7, 2024
KL Rahul was given in the 1st match while Mitchell Marsh was not given on the same basis today. The 3rd judge is a clown. Australian hypocrisy 🤡🤡#INDvsAUS #AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/8PciC7QZpm
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) December 7, 2024
Looks like Aus will play with 12th man in 3 umpire format.
Mitch Marsh was definitely out, the 3rd referee decided in 10 seconds that there was no conclusive evidence, while in the next picture we all see Pad 1.
Once a cheater always a cheater @CricketAus#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/kKCrLIWfQ3— Hitman (@Hitman_views) December 7, 2024
That’s as clear as it gets, go to Mitch Marsh first. Even David Warner and Harsha Bhogle agree. The third umpire should have looked at it from more angles than just the side.
Here’s a slow-motion view of the front – pic.twitter.com/ZY9B6bXb8Y
— the philliphere (@thephilliphere) December 7, 2024
Third-class arbitration by a third arbitrator. He did not follow the protocol, he did not follow the ball. The video replay team did not provide a final video. They did, but after Marsh’s decision. pic.twitter.com/cooKdv3rV9
— Pramod Kumar Singh (@SinghPramod2784) December 7, 2024
Ravi Ashwin to Mitchell Marsh..
– The ball clearly hit the field first, but the 3rd umpire says there is no conclusive evidence to overturn the umpire’s decision..!!😡
– ME. (@Manojy9812) December 7, 2024
My honest reaction after seeing the third referee’s decision 😡 #INDvsAUS to cheat #INDvAUS March pic.twitter.com/V7qZ7SGNfM
— Siju Moothedath (@SijuMoothedath) December 7, 2024
In the 1st game, KL Rahul was given out, while Shaun Marsh was given out today on the same basis. The 3rd judge is a clown. Australian hypocrisy 🤡🤡#INDvsAUS #AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/i4Yy7bAvOr
— __khushal______ (@khushal82649874) December 7, 2024
Third-class arbitration by a third arbitrator. He did not follow the protocol, he did not follow the ball. The video replay team did not provide a final video. They did, but after Marsh’s decision.
Fraudsters #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/w3qYdx33nR
— Cricket Lover (@GaneshK55461720) December 7, 2024
Wrong decision by the third umpire in Marsh. I thought it hit the side first. Fortunately, the kick was the ref’s call, so it wouldn’t have gone out anyway. #AUSWIND
— Scott Rea (@ScottRea) December 7, 2024
According to the third referee, there was no strong reason to eject Marsh 🤔
Watch the ball where it lands first, the patches first 😡
The referee always belongs to Australia.#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #HONESTvsIND #AUSWIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/wklF6Fo92L— Munesh Yadav🇮🇳 (@95MuneshYadav) December 7, 2024
