Australia skipper feels DRS Paine
London, Sept. 15: Australia captain Tim Paine admitted he was having “a mare” after twice failing to review umpiring decisions in the fifth Ashes Test even though the challenges would have brought wickets.
England, seeking to level the series at 2-2, are firmly in control of the final Test with two days to go, 382 runs ahead with two secondinnings wickets left.
Australia toiled in the field at the Oval on the third day of the match on Saturday and were not helped by Paine’s misjudgements.
Joe Denly, who went on to score 94, should have been out lbw to Mitchell Marsh when he was on 54 but Australia opted not to review the not-out decision.
Later on the skipper, who is the team’s wicketkeeper, failed to review a not-out decision against Jos Buttler after an appeal for lbw, with replays showing Nathan Lyon’s delivery would have hit the stumps. Buttler, then on 19, went on to score 47.
“I’m getting it wrong,” said a tetchy Paine. “I don’t know what else to say. We’re having a mare (nightmare). We’ve got it wrong.”
“It’s fast,” he added. “It’s a tough job as I’ve said throughout the whole Test series. I’ve got a new respect for umpiring, particularly in Test cricket because it’s a hard job.”