Australia v South Africa third Test 2023: Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, umpire controversies, lbw, DRS, catch drama, Mark Taylor reacts
Australia’s ambitious victory push on the final day of another rain-affected Sydney Test fell short.
But the result may have been different if fortune had favoured the Australians during one controversial Nathan Lyon over.
Australia confronted a colossal task heading into day five, requiring 14 wickets to win the match and complete a 3-0 series clean-sweep.
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Tail-enders Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj soaked up 324 balls between themselves as South Africa fended off Australia’s inevitable enforcing of the follow-on until just before tea.
The equation facing Pat Cummins’ men was then 10 wickets in 47 overs, but they managed only two breakthroughs before the skipper called an end to the match with five overs up his sleeve.
A point of contention following the final match of the Australian summer is the 24th over of the fourth innings, which left the home side lamenting a staggering lbw decision and another Steve Smith non-catch drama.
Lyon wrapped opener Heinrich Klaasen on his back pad and a review showed the ball would have smashed into middle, but Chris Gaffaney’s initial “not out” call was upheld because technology revealed the ball had impacted the batter’s pad outside off.
The Australians were left to rue another polarising call in the same over when Smith wasn’t awarded a catch at first slip. TV umpire Richard Kettleborough deemed the ball had made contact with the grass as Smith lurched forward to scoop it.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor said Gaffaney’s lbw decision was “very poor”.
”When a batsman goes back and across like that, and gets hit in the shin in front of off stump, you’ve got to give that out,” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“That’s been out for 150 years of Test match cricket.
“And to give it not out and then to see on review that the only reason it stays not out is because it’s inconclusive about whether it hit him in line with off stump or not — it’s crashing into middle halfway up.
“That’s disappointing. That’s not good umpiring.
“We talk about wanting to keep spinners in the game. Well if that’s not out lbw, I don’t know what is.”
Taylor also blasted the Smith non-catch decision.
“I can remember Tony Greig many years ago on Channel 9 did a thing where he put his fingers down under the ball, put the ball on top of his fingers … and then you take shots from various cameras under the ground and they all look like the ball is on the ground,” Taylor said.
“So if we keep sending them up and umpires keep overturning them like that … once again, batsmen are going to get more and more opportunities to be given not out when they’re out.”
Smith said he disagreed with the non-catch call when asked after the match.
“I thought today’s one … I was pretty certain I caught today’s one,” Smith told Fox Cricket.
“But (it was) deemed the other way. So, that happens, as well. Can’t do much about it. It’s the umpire’s call. We move on.”
Despite the draw, the Australians’ 2-0 series victory means South Africa didn’t extend a run of three consecutive Test series wins in Australia to four.
Australia overcame the Proteas by six wickets in Brisbane and by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne.
David Warner was awarded player of the series in recognition of his double century in the Boxing Day Test.
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