The ongoing Ashes 2023 second Test at Lord’s saw some controversy on day 4 after Australia pacer Mitchell Starc’s catch at the fine-leg boundary stirred up a huge controversy.
Cameron Green had gotten opener Ben Duckett to edge a bouncer towards the fine-leg position, where Mitchell Starc moved swiftly towards his left and completed a easy catch while sliding on the floor. Starc seemed to be in absolute control as he grabbed the catch.
Upon finishing the catch, the Australia star had a big smile on his face, confident that he did enough to send the England batter packing.
As Duckett began walking towards the pavilion, he was recalled by on-field officials after the third umpire suggested that Starc's catch wasn't clean.
This led to a huge uproar and Starc and Australia captain Pat Cummins got into an animated conversation with the on-field umpires, about why Duckett was recalled.
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The suggestion was that Starc, after grabbing the catch, grounded the ball. Since he wasn't in control of the catch entirely, the decision had to be given in the favour of the batter.
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Now as per rulebooks, a fielder should be in complete control of the ball and his movement till the catch is completed. Which, according to the third umpire, wasn't the case here as Starc grounded the ball after taking the catch.
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."
Third umpire Marias Erasmus felt that after watching the replays, Starc was not in control of his own movement when the ball was brushed against the turf.
The MCC also explained 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 cannot touch the ground before then. In this particular incident, Mitchell Starc, was still sliding as the ball rubbed the ground, therefore he was not in control of his movement."
