Root is left to curse the video verdict

RICHARD GIBSON

England were left incensed by Test cricket’s application of technology once more as the WaCa’s farewell to the ashes featured another umpiring controversy.

England captain Joe Root rushed to the dressing-room door and gestured for opening batsman Mark Stoneman to stay put after third umpire aleem dar hastily adjudged him caught behind fending at a bouncer from Mitchell Starc soon after lunch.

Stoneman did not feel the throathigh ball had brushed the glove holding the bat. nor did non-striker dawid Malan and nor did on-field umpire Marais Erasmus. But, following a dRS (decision Review System,) challenge by australia captain Steve Smith, dar told Erasmus to reverse his decision on the basis of a noise picked up by Snicko as the ball flew into the gloves of wicketkeeper Tim Paine. reports from Perth

By then, various replay angles and Hot Spot had failed to deliver the conclusive proof the dRS guidelines demand to overturn an on-field judgment. One appeared to suggest the minimal contact made by the ball was with the glove of Stoneman’s bottom hand, no longer in contact with bat handle.

Only as Stoneman left did dar ask to see what proved to be the most incriminating view, from behind the wicket.

Seconds later, when the umpires reiterated his dismissal, Root swiped his fist into the door in frustration. Even if most thought the decision probably correct, the process was not. The incident followed a marginal stumping decision going against Moeen ali in the second innings of the first Test in Brisbane when a thickly painted crease line left him needing to stretch further to ground some of his boot behind it.

new Zealand’s Chris gaffaney, the third umpire, did not feel there was clear evidence he had succeeded and gave Moeen out.

Sportsmail can reveal that England came into the third Test with reservations about the balltracking technology.

The host broadcaster selects their preferred brand and australia’s Channel 9 have for several years opted for Virtual Eye, a new Zealand company, over English rival Hawk Eye.

England’s loss of confidence in Virtual Eye goes back to adelaide when Shaun Marsh was given out lbw by gaffaney off James anderson. The decision was reversed when Virtual Eye showed the delivery would pass over the stumps and Marsh went on to hit a century.