AUS vs SA | Twitter gets divided over honest Steve Smithâs potential âcatch of the summerâ given not out by TV umpire due to soft signal
Steve Smith almost took the catch of the summer in Sydney.
|(Getty)
In Cricket, there are a few things that need to be improved in the future, especially regarding its technology and decision-making system. The debate around it sparked yet again on Saturday when Steve Smithâs spectacular attempted catch was given not out on the big screen only due to a soft signal.
After declaring on 475/4 in the first innings in the third and final Test against South Africa, Australian pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood kept their side on the upper hand with tight bowling. Their outstanding start from both ends almost earned them the prized wicket of the Proteas skipper Dean Elgar, only if Steve Smith remained confident after his attempt of one of the greatest catches of all time in Test cricket.
The incident happened after the first ball of the fifth over, by Hazlewood, who bowled a good length delivery that was shaping away from the outside off stump. Elgar tried to defend it, only to find an edge, and Smith, placed at the second slip, stretched his right hand to pluck it over the turf. However, unlike his teammates, he was not sure about the catch and keeping this in mind, on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney gave a soft signal not out before sending it upstairs.
Third umpire Richard Kettleborough had a very hard time giving his verdict on it. He tried many angles, and almost everywhere, it looked like the ball carried to Smith before he took the catch. However, from the front angle, the ball seemed to brush the turf while it was in Smithâs hand, considering that Kettleborough told Gaffaney to stay on the decision.
The Sydney crowd booed Kettleborough and the umpires for making the decision, and Twitterati too joined hands while remarking Smith was ârobbedâ from this summerâs best catch.
That looks clear out!
â MINI BUS 2022 (@minibus2022)Â January 7, 2023
Sad reality!
Sorry but this is absolutely rigged for money.. or Ratings, Iâm not sure which but I wonât be silent, just saw it live sorry.
â JAKE BUCKLEY đŠđș (@TheMasterBucks) January 7, 2023
Steve Smith has been robbed of a blinder of a catch.
Throw that Pom third umpire out the country now. #AUSvSA
WT......
steve smith getting surrounded by jubilant teammates when he knew he didn't catch it pic.twitter.com/J8WuqzqvOl
â savmegafan tweets that go hard (@savmegafan)Â January 7, 2023
It was taken!
That was a catch by Steve Smith.
â Naim (@goldandbrown4)Â January 7, 2023
One of the best catches I've seen.
It looks out but people have different opinions!
Good Morning Cricket Twitter.
â JayGawas (@JayGawas14)Â January 7, 2023
Out or Not Out?
.
Steve Smith catch against Elgar!
AUS v SA âïžÂ pic.twitter.com/2h8jLKNT0o
:(
That SA catch has predetermined the result of Steve Smiths catch #AUSvSA
â ĂÎŸĐŻâ ĐŁĂĂÄ (@Dertydog_Games) January 7, 2023
Replay shows clear out!
@CricketAus what a catch from Steve Smith! The British umpire is a cheat if he takes this off him.
â Jase (@MarkofJase)Â January 7, 2023
What a catch it would have been it it was given out!
Re the Steve Smith effort in the slips
â A-A Ron đ·đș (@_red_wood)Â January 7, 2023
It's baffling the amount of people that think if the ball touches the ground, it's still out #AUSvSA #AUSvSA
OK!
Why didnât they trust Steve Smith? He has never cheated in a game of cricket before and is an honest player !!! ICC cheating Australia again!!!
â bill garth (@BadBoyBillG)Â January 7, 2023
May be he was sure about it!
Steve Smith, the ultimate gentlemen for not celebrating while he was unsure. How do we un-ban him for a year?
â Rylan Dawson (@Dawso26)Â January 7, 2023
