Doug Bracewell reacts after bowling Adam Voges of Australia off a no-ball. Photo / Getty Images
Doug Bracewell reacts after bowling Adam Voges of Australia off a no-ball. Photo / Getty Images
A dubious no-ball call from umpire Richard Illingworth robbed New Zealand of a fourth wicket before stumps on the opening day of the first cricket test against Australia.
Adam Voges was unbeaten on seven after getting bowled by a Doug Bracewell 'no-ball' in the last over.
Illingworth threw his arm out to signal the bowler had overstepped the popping crease.
The laws state some part of a bowler's foot must land behind the line. Replays showed the delivery looked legitimate, yet Illingworth opted not to double check.
It highlighted a difficult summer for umpires making incorrect calls. The biggest clanger came on the second day of the Adelaide pink ball test. Television umpire Nigel Llong, in relation to a hotspot mark from a catch off Nathan Lyon's bat, delivered the immortal line: "There's a mark on a bat, but it could come from anywhere."
The incident follows Monday's controversy in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider in Hamilton when a big screen replay of Mitchell Marsh hitting a caught-and-bowled to Matt Henry, via the toe of his boot, led to a dismissal.
No replay of the Bracewell delivery was shown to the Basin Reserve crowd.
"We were just hoping it didn't come up on the big screen too quickly," Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood quipped in relation to the Marsh catch.
"Once the arm is thrown out, there's not much you can do about it. Obviously we're disappointed," added New Zealand spinner Mark Craig.
