As Australia all-rounder Cameron Green received England batter Ben Duckett to hit a bouncer in direction of the wonderful third-man space, fielder Mitchell Starc‘s eyes lit up. Starc gave the impression to be in absolute management as he grabbed the catch. Upon ending the catch, the Australia star had a giant smile on his face, assured that he did sufficient to ship the England batter packing. But, little did he know of what was awaiting. As Duckett started strolling in direction of the pavillion, he was recalled after the third umpire recommended that Starc’s catch wasn’t clear.

An enormous debate erupted on the sphere, with Australia skipper Pat Cummins taking over the matter with the on-field umpire, asking why the choice was not out. The suggestion was that Starc, after grabbing the catch, grounded the ball. Since he wasn’t accountable for the catch totally, the choice needed to be given within the favour of the batter.

A bemused Australian crew seemed dissatisfied whereas the talk over the catch erupted on social media too.

Well then…

What will we consider this one? 

Cleary grounded #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bPHQbw81dl

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 1, 2023

Why was the choice not-out?

As per the rulebooks, the fielder ought to be in full management of the ball and his motion until the catch is accomplished. Which, in line with the third umpire, wasn’t the

Law 33.3 of the MCC’s Laws of Cricket states that “the act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.”

In relation to the under incident, Law 33.3 clearly states {that a} catch is barely accomplished when the fielder has “complete control over the ball and his/her own movement.”

See right here for full clarification: https://t.co/cCBoJd6xOS#MCCLaws pic.twitter.com/TEOE1WKJvu

— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) July 1, 2023

On Day 4 of the Lord’s Test, the third umpire Marais Erasmus felt that Starc was not accountable for his personal motion when the ball was brushed towards the turf.

The MCC additionally defined the matter on Twitter.

“Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has ‘complete control over the ball and his/her movement’.

“The ball can not contact the bottom earlier than then. In this explicit incident, Mitchell Starc, was nonetheless sliding because the ball rubbed the bottom, subsequently he was not accountable for his motion.”

The match would resume on Day 5, with England on 114/4, needing 257 more runs to win the contest.