Twitter reacts to Barmy Army trolling Steve Smith for messing up reviews
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Cricket can be a cruel game at times as fortunes can change faster than the weather in England. After Steve Smith was criticized by the English for his incessant laughter in the press conference after the first game, it was the Aussie captain who was on the receiving end, after his DRS gaffe.
After being dismissed for a minuscule 138 in their second innings, Australia got off to a good start restricting England to 91/3 with Joe Root and Dawid Malan at the crease. With Australia in the ascendency, Smith got carried away and had to suffer ridicule from the Barmy Army because of it.
On the last ball of the 42nd over, a Pat Cummins ball jumped off the surface and went through Root’s bat and body to Tim Paine. The Aussie keeper immediately started appealing but Chris Gaffney refused to raise his finger. Smith opted for the review that showed that the umpire had made the right call and Australia were left with just review with more than a day’s action left.
However, it got worse two balls later. Josh Hazlewood bowled a good length ball outside the off stump and it nipped back sharply to trap Malan in front of his stumps. Again the umpire, this time Aleem Dar, refused to side with the hosts. Hesitantly, Smith opted for his second review and ball tracking showed the leather missing the stumps. With Australia out of reviews and the Barmy Army in full voice, Smith would not have been surprised by the backlash later on in the day.
In the 55th over, a Nathan Lyon offspinner cut back and hit Malan on the back leg. The umpire for a third time in the day chose to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. With no reviews left, there wasn’t much Smith could do but it was just what the Barmy Army had been waiting for. As the appeals died down, the entire section almost instantly started signalling for a review that left the English captain with a huge smile on his face, When checked later, the decision would still have favoured England as DRS suggested to stick with the “Umpire's Call”.
Love this from the barmy army! Brilliant!!! #Ashes #Ashes2017 pic.twitter.com/G3sm1SMyOR
— Paul Wickens (@Wyxeboy) December 5, 2017
Like the Barmy Army, the Twitterati were in no mood to let the gaffe pass and had some fun at the expense of the Aussies.
Here are the best tweets from the day’s action:
This started it all!
Two reviews burned in three balls, not ideal...#Ashes pic.twitter.com/TJLMZ7ulOR
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 5, 2017
Which triggered this! :P
😂😂 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/RB0donjhY8
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 5, 2017
The #Barmyarmy are on 🔥 #review
— Paul Hopton (@Chopper1683) December 5, 2017
That smile from Root says it all!
Barmy Army is making @stevesmith49 regret taking em stupid reviews n @root66 is lovin it #Ashes
— Ali Khan (@AliAmjadKhan7) December 5, 2017
A small support like this could fire up any side! :P
Every team needs a 'Barmy Army' for them in stands. :D #Ashes
— Silly Point 🏏 (@FarziCricketer) December 5, 2017
Definitely 1!
1.Barmy Army 2.Jimmy 3. Root
— Suresh Chepuri (@Suresh_chep) December 5, 2017
Biggest reason of England comeback? #Ashes #PoliteEnquiries
And then this happened!
What. A. Ball 🔥#ohwhatafeeling @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/BUGDMNP8I9
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 5, 2017
England fans are surfacing on Twitter out of nowhere! :P
England need only 195 to win.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 5, 2017
* Australia have used up all reviews.
* Australia suddenly can't catch a cold.
* Australians are all going quiet on Twitter.
* Australian captain Steve Smith hasn't laughed for several hours.
It's ON. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/zOitHTw84j
