England finally get rub of green

AUSSIE SKIPPER’S REVIEW SENDS HIM PACKING It was third time lucky as two reviews went against tourists.

England were relieved to finally get a video review in their favour with the dismissal of Steve Smith, seamer Chris Woakes said after collecting the vital scalp of the Australian captain in the second Ashes Test yesterday.

Smith had barely survived when an lbw decision was overturned on review off the third ball Smith faced from fast bowler James Anderson, so England were understandably nervous when umpire Chris Gaffaney gave the same player out to Woakes three overs later.

Smith had no hesitation calling for a review, but this time the technology projected that the ball would have clipped the top of offstump and the decision was upheld, to England’s delight.

“The way DRS has gone this game for us, there were a few that we thought were dead certs for us, and they haven’t (been), so to get (one) on umpire’s call was really nice,” Woakes told reporters.

Australia reached 53/4 at stumps last night to lead by 268 runs with two days to go.

Smith’s dismissal ultimately might not affect the outcome of the match, but how differently the game might have unfolded had two reviews not gone against England on Sunday, when Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh both benefited.

Marsh was on 29 when he was given out lbw, but DRS projected the ball would have bounced a whisker over middle stump.

Reprieved, he went on to score 126 not out as Australia built a huge first-innings score of 442 /8 declared.

Two overs after Marsh’s reprieve, Paine, on 24, was adjudged lbw to Anderson. As with Marsh, the ball was projected to have passed fractionally over middle stump and the wicketkeeper went on to make 57.

Marsh and Paine shared a sixth-wicket stand of 85 that tipped the match firmly in Australia’s favour.

Later in the day, England also opted for a review when opener Mark Stoneman was trapped lbw for 18 by Mitchell Starc.

On that occasion, however, the umpire had the call right and the batsman was sent back to the changeroom. –

Picture: Reuters VINDICATED. England players celebrate after having the call not to give Australian captain Steve Smith out lbw overturned by the third umpire during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide yesterday.