Picture Credit: Twitter
The ongoing first Ashes Test between bitter-rivals Australia and England got marred by controversy on Day 2 when replays showed that guest all-rounder Ben Stokes bowled as many as 14 no-balls but only two of those got detected. The issue came to light after the right-arm pacer dismissed David Warner but replays suggested that it was a no-ball. However, later, it was understood that the player had, in fact, overstepped in the preceding three deliveries as well.
Channel 7 brought the umpiring blunder to everyone's notice by showing all the four consecutive deliveries that Stokes bowled to Warner in the 13th over, including that in which the wicket came.
The same media outlet also revealed that Stokes bowled as many as 14 no-balls but only two of them got detected. It is worth noting that the third umpire is responsibly for checking the no-ball since ICC's decision in August this year.
"The third umpire shall review television replays of the bowler's front foot landing and, if he/she is satisfied that any of these three conditions have not been met, he/she shall immediately advise the bowler's end umpire who shall in turn immediately call and signal No-ball," the ICC had said.
However, reports state that the technology which is used to help third umpire for checking the no-ball is not available for the ongoing Ashes series.
It's pathetic officiating: Ricky Ponting
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting criticised the umpiring, calling it "pathetic". "If it's someone upstairs who is supposed to checking these, and they haven't decided that any of those are a no-ball, it's pathetic officiating as far as I'm concerned. If (Stokes) had been called for a no-ball the first one he bowled, then of course he is going to drag his foot back," he was quoted as saying by Channel 7.