Aussie media: NZ helped to win by 'mob rule' and 'rabid' crowd

Black Caps bowler Matt Henry appeals for the wicket of Matthew Wade during play in the third ODI between New Zealand and Australia. Photo / Alan Gibson.

Brendon McCullum's hypocrisy and "mob rule" by a "rabid" crowd combined to bring Australia down at Seddon Park, according to Australian media as they reacted to the Matt Henry catching controversy.

"McCullum's (international) ODI swansong will be remembered for the bizarre wicket of Marsh, which will further raise doubt in the Australian dressing room over the Black Caps' status as the modern day torchbearers for sportsmanship," the Sydney Morning Herald's Andrew Wu wrote.

Wu reported there were "...heated scenes between the two teams with claims Matthew Wade had called Grant Elliott a "f****** coward" for sledging an angry Marsh as he left. Marsh then appeared to yell "f****** bullshit" as he walked off the field despite a consolatory tap from McCullum."

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Andrew Ramsey from cricket.com.au pointed to the "hollering" crowd" and feared for a world in which "mob rule" ran sport, after the crowd reaction forced the umpires into resurrecting a cold case appeal.

"Marsh might go into cricket's voluminous records as the first player to be voted out of a game as a result of popular vote. Or unpopular vote to be more accurate, given the rabid response Australia's cricketers have been treated to from crowds in New Zealand," cricket.com.au's Andrew Ramsey wrote.

"...the process by which the verdict was rather untidily achieved will need to be examined by wise heads, in the cool light of day lest it sets a precedent that, in turn, could see mob rule become an active element in officiating professional sport."

Ramsey concluded: "What officials might have to look more closely at is the power that is unleashed when video evidence is played to a potentially volatile gathering while the decision-making process is still 'live'," Ramsey wrote.

"What remains beyond doubt is - just like that controversial final day of the historic pink ball Test in Adelaide - an absorbing series between two evenly matched, highly competitive teams was resolved amid the unmistakable cloud of controversy and the lingering whiff of an unfair ruling."

The Daily Telegraph's Ben Horne wrote: "The irony of McCullum's actions and subsequent defence was difficult to miss, given he last year blasted Smith in a newspaper column for showing a lack of spirit in refusing to rescind a contentious appeal against England's Ben Stokes for handled ball in a match at Lord's," suggesting McCullum was "living in a glass house".