'Awful umpiring', 'Clearly not out': Cricket World reacts to Dhruv Jurel catch controversy in IND vs SL Test as ball appears to scrape turf

'Awful umpiring', 'Clearly not out': Cricket World reacts to Dhruv Jurel catch controversy in IND vs SL Test as ball appears to scrape turf originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Dhruv Jurel's catch to dismiss Lahiru Udara sparked a major controversy in Galle.

Replays suggested the ball may have brushed the turf as the catch was completed.

Reserve umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri was officiating during the first Test between India and Sri Lanka after Rod Tucker fell unwell.

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Cricket World reacts to Dhruv Jurel catch controversy in IND vs SL Test as ball appears to scrape turf

India's charge towards victory in Galle was interrupted by a flashpoint that had the cricket world in near-unanimous agreement, and not in the third umpire's favour. Dhruv Jurel's catch to remove Lahiru Udara was given out despite replays appearing to show the ball making contact with the ground.

The dismissal came with Sri Lanka in deep trouble in their pursuit of 372, a target that would be the highest successful chase in the venue's history. Losing their fourth wicket with just 47 on the board left the hosts staring at a heavy defeat, making the manner of the decision all the more contentious.

Jurel was positioned close in, crouched low with his knees on the floor, when the edge came at him. He appeared to get his fingers underneath the ball, but in completing the take the ball looked to have scraped the turf, prompting immediate scrutiny once the replays appeared on the big screen.

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Jurel catch in Galle sparks debate online

The situation was complicated by a late change in the officiating team, with reserve umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri stepping in to take over third umpire duties after Rod Tucker was taken unwell. It was Wimalasiri who ultimately ruled in India's favour.

Senior cricket journalist Anand Vasu was among the most measured but firm critics of the call. He wrote, "Jurel is crouched down, knees on the floor. The edge comes to him. He appears to have fingers under the ball, but in completing the catch the ball looks like it brushed the ground."

He argued that while foreshortening is well understood, Udara didn't deserve to be given out. He believes that the only person who thought otherwise was third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri thinks otherwise."

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India Today senior editor Rahul Rawat was blunter still, arguing the decision was beyond debate. He posted, "That catch by Dhruv Jurel shouldn't be even up for debate. That was clearly not out. Lahiru Udara has only the tv umpire to blame for this one."

Fans echoed the sentiment, with one supporter writing, "There's absolutely no way that Jurel catch is clean lol. There's no chance that ball hasn't touched the ground, Jurel has almost rolled it along the ground for a bit. Awful umpiring. To be fair to Jurel, he immediately did say he wasn't sure if it was clean."

Others acknowledged the difficulty of the take while still questioning the verdict. Another fan wrote, "Outstanding stretch forward catch by Dhruv Jurel under the helmet at gully but I'm damn sure most 3rd umpires would have given it NOT OUT as even I think his fingers were under it first up but there's a strong possibility that the ball touched the ground after it."

The overall sentiment remained split between the fans and experts alike.

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Explained: Why the third umpire gave the Jurel catch out

The dismissal came off the bowling of Manav Suthar, with Udara edging to Jurel positioned close in under the helmet. The ball travelled low and fast, and the on-field officials immediately referred it upstairs to determine whether the catch had been taken cleanly, with the ball appearing to be only centimetres off the turf.

The replays presented the familiar problem that has dogged low catches for years. The initial angles suggested Jurel's fingers were under the ball, but the more the footage was zoomed in, the more pixelated the image became, and the more it appeared that the ball may have scraped the grass as the catch was completed.

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Ultimately, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri concluded that the evidence showed Jurel's fingers were beneath the ball at the point of contact, and he was satisfied enough to uphold the catch. Udara had to depart for 16 off 58 balls, having faced almost an hour in his attempt to dig Sri Lanka out of trouble.

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