Steve Smith's run-out raises eyebrows: Recalling other wicket decisions in 2023 that created uproar

Steve Smith run-out decision

In a thrilling turn of events during the 5th and final Ashes Test at the Kennington Oval, tension escalated when a run-out decision involving Steve Smith was referred to the third umpire, Nitin Menon.

The drama unfolded when Smith attempted a daring second run, diving to beat the throw from substitute fielder George Ealham. England's wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow, swiftly dislodged the stumps and appealed for a run-out. Initially, Smith began walking back to the pavilion, seemingly accepting his dismissal after viewing the replay on the big screen. England players erupted into celebration, and the crowd cheered loudly.

However, the lengthy video review showed that the bails came off the groove only after Smith's bat had safely crossed the crease line. Consequently, the third umpire, Nitin Menon, ruled in favor of Smith and declared him not out, much to the dismay of the England team and their supporters.

Hardik Pandya's dismissal

During the 1st ODI between India and New Zealand in January, a peculiar dismissal involving Hardik Pandya raised eyebrows and left everyone stunned. Third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan was at the center of the controversial decision that sparked intense discussions among players and commentators.

The incident occurred in the 40th over of the Indian innings when Hardik attempted to cut an incoming angular delivery from Kiwi all-rounder Daryl Mitchell but failed to make contact with the ball. Surprisingly, the bails dislodged, and Mitchell and his teammates celebrated, believing they had bowled Hardik out.

However, New Zealand's captain and wicket-keeper, Tom Latham, suspected that the bails might have been disturbed by his gloves. Latham requested the umpires to review the decision. The third umpire, following Latham's request, meticulously examined multiple replays, including using UltraEdge to check for any potential bat contact.

During the review process, split-screen images showed that the ball did not appear to graze the off stump at all. Instead, the bails seemed to have lit up and fallen after Latham collected the ball, standing up to the stumps.

Despite the seemingly inconclusive evidence, the third umpire ruled in favor of New Zealand, giving Hardik out, a decision that astonished both the Kiwi players and the commentators covering the match.

Shubman Gill out

During Day 4 of the highly-anticipated World Test Championship final between India and Australia at The Oval, the Indian opening batsman, Shubman Gill, provided a rollicking start alongside captain Rohit Sharma while chasing a record target of 444.

However, in the 8th over of the Indian innings, Scott Boland's delivery induced a false shot from Gill. The ball held its line instead of coming in with Boland's wrist position, catching the outside edge of Gill's bat. Despite attempting to keep his hands soft, the ball seemed to be dying down before reaching the slip cordon. But to everyone's surprise, the towering Cameron Green, fielding in the slips, displayed exceptional reflexes and dived to his left, clutching the ball just inches above the ground.

In the immediate aftermath of the catch, Shubman Gill stood his ground, suggesting that the ball might have touched the ground before Green fully controlled it. The on-field umpires sought assistance from the third umpire, Richard Kettleborough, to review the catch. The recent change in the soft signal rule meant that the decision rested solely on the evidence presented by the replays from various angles.

After a careful examination of multiple angles, the third umpire determined that Cameron Green had his "fingers underneath the ball" during the catch. Consequently, much to the disappointment of the majority of the crowd at the stadium, Shubman Gill was given out. 

Both Gill and Rohit expressed visible displeasure with the decision, and Rohit even engaged in a discussion with the umpires while walking off for the Tea break.

Jonny Bairstow's run-out

During Day 5 of the gripping second Ashes Test at Lord's, a crucial moment unfolded when Jonny Bairstow fell victim to a brilliant run-out executed by Alex Carey during the morning session.

The incident occurred in the 52nd over of England's innings, with Bairstow and Ben Stokes attempting to rebuild the innings after the dismissal of Ben Duckett. In an unfortunate turn of events, Bairstow left the final delivery of Cameron Green's over, presuming that the ball was dead. Consequently, he began to walk outside the crease, seemingly without any imminent danger.

However, displaying remarkable awareness and quick thinking, Alex Carey seized the opportunity to make a game-changing play. Realizing that Bairstow was unaware of the ball's live status, Carey swiftly picked up the ball and hurled it directly at the striker's end. The accurate throw caught Bairstow well short of his ground, resulting in his dismissal.

The run-out left Bairstow visibly frustrated, while the Australian team celebrated their successful execution of the vital wicket.

Sai Sudharsan's wicket

In the final of the ACC Men's Emerging Asia Cup held in Colombo on 23rd July 2023, India A faced Pakistan A in a high-stakes encounter. Yash Dhull, the India A skipper, won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to restrict Pakistan to a manageable total. However, Pakistan's batting prowess proved formidable as they set a massive target of 353 runs for the young Indian side.

When India A began their chase, Sai Sudharsan and Abhishek Sharma took on the responsibility as openers. The duo provided a solid start, but the match took a controversial turn when Sudharsan was dismissed amid a contentious 'no-ball' decision. The incident unfolded during the ninth over of India A's innings.

On the third delivery of the over, Arshad Iqbal bowled a short ball, and Sudharsan attempted a pull shot. Unfortunately, he could only manage a top edge, and the Pakistan wicketkeeper and skipper, Mohammad Haris, completed a comfortable catch under the lights. However, the on-field umpires hesitated and were uncertain about a possible front foot no-ball. They asked the batter to wait momentarily while they reviewed the decision using technology.

After several replays and careful examination, the third umpire also ruled Sudharsan out, despite the contentious nature of the decision. Sudharsan's innings came to an end at 29 runs off 28 balls, including four well-struck boundaries. The controversial dismissal quickly caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts, and videos and images of the incident went viral on social media.

Several fans expressed their disagreement with the decision, arguing that it should have gone in favor of the batter.