Chris Woakes is DENIED a wicket after a controversial no ball call in England’s final Ashes test in Australia, with Alex Carey handed a reprieve after bowler’s foot was judged to have been over the line on replays
- Chris Woakes bowled out Alex Carey, only for it to be overturned by the umpire
- Sir Ian Botham was angered by the decision to overturn Woakes wicket on Carey
- Former ICC umpire of the year Simon Taufel also disagreed with the decision
- Stuart Broad got England back on track in the morning of day three of the Ashes
- Mark Wood grabbed his fifth wicket later, removing Mitchell Starc for just one
- Latest Ashes news, including breaking updates and live action
England’s Chris Woakes was denied the wicket of Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey after a controversial no-ball call on day three of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart, when he was adjudged to have overstepped by third umpire Paul Reiffel.
Woakes looked to have bowled Carey for 19, with the 30-year-old having played a limp shot and dragged the ball against his stumps.
However, replays showed that Woakes was tight on the front line and Reiffel looked at multiple angles before opting for the no-ball.
The third umpire assessed a no-ball after Alex Carey of Australia was bowled by Chris Woakes
England’s Ben Stokes reacts as the no ball decision was given on the big screen at the Ashes
It was difficult to tell if Woakes’ foot was behind the line, however, making the decision a controversial one, particularly among the England faithful.
On the call, Sir Ian Botham said: ‘I do not see that as (a) conclusive (no-ball) in any way, shape or form. That boot there is on the ground and that for me is just behind.’
He found an ally in former ICC umpire of the year Simon Taufel, who added: ‘I’m sitting at home looking at those pictures and if they’re the pictures the third umpire is seeing, I don’t think that I’d overrule that and call that a no-ball.’
Carey would have breathed a sigh of relief, but managed to marshal everything Ollie Robinson threw at him before falling from Stuart Broad’s bowling.
England needed a breakthrough late in the first session, and up stepped Broad, with Cameron Green the man who was made to walk.
The Australian looked to play across the bowler, but missed, and the ball then rapped his pad.
Carey later survived a DRS appeal to continue his good fortune, before Mark Wood picked up his fifth wicket.
Woakes was adjudged to have overstepped by third umpire Paul Reiffel during the Hobart Test
Mitchell Starc was forced to walk for just one, after fending off a delivery but picking out Ollie Pope at short leg.
Wood had also thundered a superb yorker at Pat Cummins, which was sent around the wicket before whacking into the batsman’s shoe.
The wicket was given, but Cummins was quick to review, and it showed the ball was missing the stumps.
Australia’s lead ticked over 250 on day three at lunch, and they were dismissed for 155 all out.