Australian fury as catch ‘disgrace’ lets off England’s Ben Duckett in second Ashes Test

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Glenn McGrath has labelled a crucial third-umpire call to deny Mitchell Starc a late catch at Lord’s on day four as a “disgrace” and “rubbish”.

Starc thought he had helped claim the wicket of England opener Ben Duckett on 50 late on day four of the second Ashes Test, when the left-hander skied Cameron Green to fine leg.

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Duckett initially walked from the field, before staying near the boundary rope when replays showed Starc had let the ball hit the grass with his hand over the top of it after catching it low to the ground.

That prompted third umpire Marais Erasmus to review the decision, deeming that Starc did not have control over his body when the ball was placed against the turf.

Australia immediately remonstrated the call, before Duckett was allowed to go to stumps unbeaten on 50 and England 4-114 in pursuit of 371 for victory.

McGrath was also unhappy.

“I’m sorry that is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. He has got that ball under control,” McGrath said on BBC commentary.

“That ball is under control. I’ve seen everything this game has to offer. If that is not out, then every other catch that’s ever been taken should not be out. That is a disgrace.”

Starc’s catch was overturned. Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting also questioned inconsistencies in decisions, comparing the Starc catch to other calls given out in the past month.

Those included Green’s controversial catch of Shubman Gill against India in the World Test Championship final, and Smith’s diving effort to remove Joe Root in the first innings at Lord’s.

“Mitchell Starc had much better control of that ball and for longer than when Steve Smith did when he caught Joe Root,” Ponting said on Sky Sports.

The game’s official law-makers, the Marylebone Cricket Club, have moved to clarify the call by pointing out the rule states a catch is only completed when a fielder “has complete control over the ball and his or her movement”.

“Starc was still sliding as the ball rubbed the ground, therefore he was not in control of his movement,” the body said in a tweet.