AUS vs AFG | Twitter reacts as Alex Wharfâs delayed verdict leaves Starc and Shahidi bewildered
The umpireâs role in the smooth passage of a cricket match is paramount and they have to be on their toes, making the right calls and that too instantly. In the clash between Australia and Afghanistan, Alex Wharfâs delayed decision was a cause of perplexity and created a lot of buzz online.
Afghanistan opted to bat first in the encounter against Australia at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. After Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed in the powerplay, Ibrahim Zadran led Afghanistanâs charge with the bat and notched up steady partnerships with Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. When Zadran and Shahidi were battling it out against the Australian bowlers, there was an instance when the umpireâs hesitant decision caused a lot of confusion among the players of both camps.
During the second ball of the 36th over, Mitchell Starc bowled an inswinger on good length to Shahidi and the delivery went past both the batter and leg stump. However, umpire Alex Wharf did not signal wide right away. Shahidi, hoping for a wide call, looked at the umpire puzzled seeing which Wharf signalled him to be patient. The fact that the umpire did not make an instant call left Pat Cummins and Starc bewildered too and the left-arm pacer, while going back to his mark, inquired if the ball brushed the pad. After responding to Starc, Wharf eventually deemed the delivery as wide, the delay presumably owing to anticipation of a potential DRS review by Australia.
The whole incident hogged a lot of limelight and many fans expressed their thoughts on the same on Twitter.
Everyone was confused for a while!
â bhupendar jogi (@JogiBhupen85333)Â November 7, 2023
That was some confusion!
UMIPRE NOT GIVE A WIDE & STAC SAID TO UMPIRE THAT'S WIDE ,THEN UMPIRE GIVES THIS WIDE
â shoaib (@chshoaib223)Â November 7, 2023
!MICHALL STARC IS A FAITHFULL MAN,GOOD JOBđ.#AUSvsAFG #CWC2023INDIA #srilankacricketboard #SriLankaCricket #CricketWorldCup
What was he thinking? I mean the umpire!
Indeed. the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, ....the ball passes wide of where the striker is standing or has stood at any point after the ball came into play for that delivery, and which also would have passed wide of the striker standing in a normal batting position.
â Tony (@Perth1969)Â November 7, 2023
Very dull match! Agreed on it.
Dull match nothing happening from both sides, no runs no wkts đ Meanwhile Umpire also gone sleep mode, n forget to signal wide..3rd Umpire woke him up to signal đđ#AFGvAUS #AUSvAFG #AUSvsAFG #BANvsSL #SLvsBAN #Shakib #RashidKhan #Zampa #Maxwell pic.twitter.com/c4zVPFQW1J
â Cric_Lover đ (@ankit_bhattar)Â November 7, 2023
Starc was checking if it was pad?
UMIPRE NOT GIVE A WIDE & STAC SAID TO UMPIRE THAT'S WIDE ,THEN UMPIRE GIVES THIS WIDE
â Masab Irfan (@imMasab71)Â November 7, 2023
!MICHALL STARC IS A FAITHFULL MAN,GOOD JOBđ.#AUSvsAFGÂ pic.twitter.com/83YuHoxqJq
Hahaha!
Sir iga umpire wide koddhe iddaga Starc avre elidru adhu wide anta adhu spirit of the game thorsutte#StarNaKelu @StarSportsKan
â Dhruva đ (@Dhruva75)Â November 7, 2023
Great century against great team!
He scored a World Cup hundred against Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood, Zampa. #AUSvAFGÂ
â Asmita Mehra (@ImMehra94)Â November 7, 2023
What a Knock Hundred đŻÂ #CWC2023
Ohhh!
Afghanistans best chance today was batting 2nd and surviving initial burst from Hazlewood and StarcâŚlets see
â Shah of Sanatan (@MPSORD)Â November 7, 2023
The best comes from great players!
Mitchell Starc Yorkers are THE BEST!
â Noor Fatima (@NF_twt_)Â November 7, 2023
What a day for him!
IBRAHIM ZADRAN, A KNOCK TO REMEMBER....!!!!
â Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)Â November 7, 2023
- He scored a World Cup hundred against Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood, Zampa. pic.twitter.com/g8FFv3wsaz