Ben Stokes expressed dissatisfaction with the ball-tracking technology during Zak Crawley’s LBW review in the second Test at Vizag, sparking a social media debate.
England captain Ben Stokes expressed disagreement with the LBW dismissal of opener Zak Crawley by wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Day 4 of the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Despite Crawley’s strong performance, England lost the Test by 106 runs, leveling the series 1-1.
In the match, opener Zak Crawley, scoring his second consecutive fifty, posed a threat to India’s chances. However, Yadav’s delivery struck Crawley in front of the leg stump. Initially given not-out, Rohit Sharma’s review showed the ball hitting Crawley’s leg-stump more than 50 percent. The decision triggered a social media debate, with some suggesting at least one of the ‘impact’ and ‘hitting’ should have been ‘umpire’s call’.
While speaking in a post-match presser, Stokes disagreed with the technology’s assessment, emphasizing its inherent limitations and supporting the notion that it could be wrong on certain occasions when not 100%.
“Technology in the game is obviously there. Everyone has an understanding of the reasons it can never be 100% which is why we have the umpire’s call. That’s why it’s in place. When it’s not 100% as everyone says, I don’t think it’s unfair for someone to say ‘I think the technology has got it wrong on this occasion,” Stokes said
“And that is my personal opinion. I will say that. But in a game full of ifs, buts and maybes, I am not going to say that the reason why we haven’t got the result we wanted. I’m just saying my personal opinion is that the technology has gone wrong on this occasion, and I think that’s fair to say. You can’t really do much with things that have been and gone. A decision has been made, and you can’t really overturn a decision that has been made. That is where I stand on that,” he added.
Crawley, the top scorer, led England’s aggressive approach in chasing 399. Following his dismissal, India gained momentum, with Bumrah dismissing Bairstow and Foakes, while a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ran out Stokes.
Stokes also expressed satisfaction with the team’s bold approach, emphasizing England’s commitment to a distinctive style of play. He acknowledged the strategy might not always succeed but highlighted that a loss is a loss, regardless of the margin.
The skipper further mentioned that a few players in the English camp were unwell due to a virus on the morning of the match, affecting their well-being. He clarified that it’s not an excuse for the outcome but acknowledged the challenges. Despite the illness, he commended the affected players for not shying away from their responsibilities and giving their best.
India leveled the series 1-1, and the third Test is scheduled in Rajkot from February 15.
Last Updated on February 5, 2024
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