Australia great Glenn McGrath stirred up an Ashes controversy at Lord’s, branding the umpires’ decision to reprieve England opener Ben Duckett late on the fourth evening “a disgrace”.
Duckett was on his way back to the pavilion for 50 after Mitchell Starc held on to a mis-hit uppercut at fine-leg, apparently leaving England in dire trouble at 113 for five chasing a distant 371.
But he was called back after TV umpire Marais Erasmus reviewed the footage and ruled that the ball was not under Starc’s control before he slid it along the outfield.
Duckett appeared uncertain about his own fate, shrugging his shoulders before resuming his innings as he and Ben Stokes reached stumps a few moments later on 114 for four. The issue may not have a bearing on the result, with England still needing another 257, but Duckett’s slice of fortune and Stokes’ presence mean it cannot be ruled out.
Marylebone Cricket Club, owners of Lord’s and custodians of the laws of the game, tweeted to support the on-field decision but McGrath was incandescent during a commentary stint on BBC’s Test Match Special even suggesting the home side had been given preferential treatment.
“That is a disgrace. That is ridiculous, I cannot believe it,” he said.
“I’ve seen everything this game has to offer, if that is not out, then every other catch that has ever been taken should not be out. That’s a regulation catch.
“That’s the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. He has the ball under control. If I was (Australia captain) Pat Cummins, I would be popping up and seeing the match referee. I am sorry that is out, I don’t care who you are playing for. If that’s England taking that catch, that’s out.”
The view from within the Australia dressing room was considerably milder, with Nathan Lyon offering a non-committal assessment.
Lyon had earlier made a remarkable cameo, ditching the crutches he has been using since tearing his calf on the second evening to make an unexpected and painful appearance at number 11.
“Emotions would be high but obviously there is a ruling in the cricket world with the umpires that you have to complete the catch,” he said.
“In my opinion….no, I’m not going to give you my opinion because it doesn’t matter.”
England’s assistant coach Marcus Trescothick was happy to leave the call to the match officials.
“Trust the process, the umpires make the decision so let’s sit back and trust in what they call,” he said.
“It’s probably the same sort of situation with VAR in football, which we all know is a difficult one. When you put the technology on and see the ball sliding along the floor, that’s when you start to question it. From what’s been said by umpires, you’ve got to have control of the ball and your body until the motion is finished.”
England will undoubtedly need a special performance to find a route to victory, but Trescothick took heart from the fact that Stokes remained in play.
The all-rounder has seen his country out of several outrageously tight spots over the years, in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley as well as two World Cup finals in two different formats, and looked in determined mood when he sent down 12 consecutive overs during the Australian innings.
“You see that from Ben often, he is the master of bowling big, long spells and really grabbing the game,” he said.
“He’s showing to the opposition, to himself, to his team-mates, to the public, this is what he’s all about. Whenever he is ready to go, when he’s up for a fight, he’s in the contest and it’s great to have someone like that in your team.
“Everybody around the world is wary of him when he’s in that frame of mind.”
Advantage South Africa A after sub-par batting by West Indies A on day two
A sub-par batting display by West Indies A allowed South Africa A to take a decent-looking advantage heading into the third day’s play, as they closed day two of the second four-day Test on 65 for one in their second inning at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.
By virtue of that, the South Africans, who held a 144-run first innings lead, are now 209 runs in front, a very good position from which they can impose their will on the contest, should the West Indies A bowlers fail to fire.
Tony de Zorzi 34, and Raynard van Tonder on 20, are the batsmen that will resume for South Africa A on Thursday.
Earlier, the South Africans led by Keegan Petersen (67), van Tonder (50) and de Zorzi (44), Posted 298 in their first innings, before restricting West Indies A to a meagre 154. Ruan de Swardt (42) and Khaya Zondo (35), also got in on the act for South Africa.
Scores: South Africa A 298 all out & 65-1; West Indies A 154 all out
Akeem Jordan (3-43), Shamar Joseph (3-57), Kevin Sinclair (2-53) and Jair McAllister (2-64) were the wicket takers for the West Indies.
In their first innings, the Joshua da Silva-led Caribbean side, struggled to contend with the spin of right-arm off-break Dane Piedt, with only Zachary McCaskie (62) and Kavem Hodge (25), offering little resistance. In fact, Abhijai Mansingh and Jordan, who both made 14 runs, were the only other batsmen in double figures.
Piedt bagged 5-28, with support from Tshepo Moreki, who had 3-66.
South Africa in their second innings, lost captain Neil Brand cheaply for four, before de Zorzi and van Tonder repaired the damage.
Manchester United’s Millie Turner buzzing after ‘quite unexpected’ England call
Millie Turner is relishing being in the England fold again after a call-up she says was “quite unexpected”.
Manchester United defender Turner, whose previous Lionesses involvement came as part of a training camp in 2020 under Phil Neville, was called up by Sarina Wiegman last week as a replacement for the injured Millie Bright.
While it came as quite a surprise to the 27-year-old, it is something she says her father had told her he had “had a feeling” about.
Regarding the phone call she received from Wiegman, Turner told a press conference: “It was very exciting, and quite unexpected, to be fair.
“I remember I was sat at home and she rang me and I just tried to play it quite cool when she told me that she was calling me up, but after the phone call ended I was so buzzing.
“I rang my family, rang my Dad, and he said he was just so proud of me. It was a big moment for me and my family.
“I think my neighbours at the start were hating me because I was jumping around my house! But my Dad, I just remember him saying ‘Mill, I’m so proud of you’, and he said he had a feeling to be honest that I’d get called into this camp, so I think he’s been talking it into reality.
“For me, it’s all I’ve ever dreamed of, all I’ve ever hoped of – it’s just been such a big ambition for me to play for my country.”
Turner now has the possibility of making her senior international debut at Wembley.
England face the Netherlands at the national stadium on Friday in the first of their final two Nations League group games, with a clash against Scotland at Hampden Park following four days later.
Wilmslow-born Turner, who said she has around six family members coming down for the game on Friday, added: “(To make England bow at Wembley) would be incredibly special.
“Just to be part of this team is such a great honour and to be able to put that shirt on and even to play at Wembley would be incredible.”
European champions and World Cup runners-up England, third in Nations League Group A1, must beat leaders the Netherlands to stay in contention for top spot, the final position they need to have a chance to secure Paris 2024 Olympics qualification for Great Britain.
Turner said: “I think it’s going to be a massive game. But the Lionesses, we’re incredible, the way we have performed and come over every single barrier and come out of it really strongly. I think it’ll be a very good game to watch.
“The mentality never changes. We all fight and want to give absolutely everything that we can for our country – and I think it’s quite a good position to be in, because we’re ready to fight and ready to put on a performance.”
John Turner aiming to push T20 World Cup hopes on England’s tour of Caribbean
John Turner is bidding to push his case for a spot in England’s T20 World Cup title defence during the upcoming tour of the Caribbean.
Turner made his T20 bow less than six months ago but flourished for Hampshire in the Vitality Blast with 21 wickets in 11 matches, leading to a maiden England call-up towards the end of the summer.
A side strain delayed his debut but England remain keen on the 22-year-old and named him in both white-ball squads to face the West Indies, who will co-host the 2024 T20 World Cup alongside the United States.
His selection next summer would be a surprise given those ahead of him in the pecking order, but a woeful 50-over World Cup means England’s established players cannot take their places for granted.
Having been fast-tracked into the England set-up, though, Turner – born and raised in Johannesburg – is trying to take everything in his stride ahead of a potentially pivotal next few weeks in his career.
“All I can do is give my best performances and make life hard for the selectors when it comes to the time for the World Cup – but it definitely does give me some focus,” Turner told the PA news agency.
“Naturally after a World Cup, there will be some form of change – some years more than others. There’s quite an exciting crop of players coming through. It’s quite an exciting time for English cricket.
“Obviously the World Cup was massively disappointing for everyone but, with disappointment, it opens the door for new opportunities and new ways for things to be done.”
Turner, who qualifies for England through a Zambian mother born to English parents, is looking to be a point of difference among fast bowlers with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood absent in the Caribbean.
He describes his pace as his biggest asset even though his action by one former coach was likened to Glenn McGrath, whose precision control of line and length made him one of all-time great fast bowlers.
“It’s obviously an unbelievable comparison to have,” Turner said. “If I was half the bowler he was, I think I’m doing very well.
“I’m not necessarily a traditional English bowler that’s going to try to swing it away and nick you off, I’m just going to try and hit a hard length, be consistent there and bowl as fast as I can.
“I’ve got some variations. During the season, I didn’t necessarily go to them as much as I would have thought, but I’ve got some things to go to when I’m under the pump.
“So far the ride for me has been really positive. It could go horribly wrong but having the backing of everyone and particularly England at the moment gives me massive confidence.”
Turner grew up idolising South Africa great Dale Steyn and sees a bit of the fiery former quick in himself.
“The way he bowled with the aggression, the pace, the ability and everything… he wore his heart on his sleeve and that’s something I probably do, to a certain degree,” Turner said.
Turner has spent the past couple of weeks on an England Lions winter training camp in Abu Dhabi but could make his international bow as part of a new-look ODI side in Antigua on Sunday.
“It would be really emotional and a massive day for me,” Turner added, when asked about the prospect of a first England appearance on this trip.
“Growing up, you’re always wanting to play international cricket and on the biggest stage in the world – that’s what this is. Hopefully just the start of quite a long journey.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
