As bad as VAR! Leach angry as TV umpire misses catch

JACK LEACH admitted he was ‘angry’ after being robbed of a wicket by an umpiring howler — and compared technology in cricket to football’s VAR.

England reviewed a not out decision when they thought Ollie Pope had caught Ajinkya Rahane at short leg off the bowling of Leach.

TV umpire Anil Chaudhary stuck with the on-field call after replays showed Rahane had not edged the ball on to his pad.

However, Chaudhary failed to check to see if the ball had ricocheted off the batsman’s glove after it had hit his pad — the whole reason Joe Root called for the review.

An incensed Root then asked for the decision to be re-reviewed, which it was, but only for an lbw, and Rahane was allowed to bat on.

UltraEdge later proved Rahane had indeed gloved the ball to Pope.

Fortunately for England, he was bowled by Moeen Ali in the next over after only adding one more run to his score of 67.

Leach, who took 2-78, said: ‘It is a bit like VAR — still controversial even though you’ve got the video technology there.

‘They said they were checking for the glove and then the lbw came up and we were saying “No, no, no, check the other one” but that was it.

‘I got the impression that they hadn’t checked it. We got the wicket in the next over and then we heard that it should have been out.

‘At the time I was a little bit angry, but getting the wicket in the next over makes it a bit easier. It’s not cost us too much. I’d rather have three wickets than two, but I’m just pleased he got out.’

England initially lost their review but had it reinstated after their operations manager Wayne Bentley contacted match referee Javagal Srinath having seen the TV evidence. Leach also could have had Rohit Sharma out stumped on 159, with replays showing no conclusive evidence that his foot was behind the line.

‘Watching it, I felt it might get given,’ he said. ‘It was touch and go.’

Yesterday’s play saw an official attendance of 9,000 socially-distanced fans after the Indian government changed coronavirus guidelines to permit crowds of up to 50 per cent capacity at sporting venues.

Leach added: ‘It was very special to have fans back. It’s been a while for both teams so that was really good.

‘It was my first experience of an Indian crowd and I have never heard noise like it when Virat Kohli came to the wicket. Then the ground when silent when he got out, which is a nice thing to do out here!’