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'It Was The Perfect Storm For The Third Umpire': Nasser Hussain On Nitin Menon's Decision On Steve Smith's Run-Out

image-lko7etxpSteve Smith was declared not out. (Twitter)

Former England captain Nasser Hussain offered his sympathy to third umpire Nitin Menon following his decision to adjudge Australian batsman Steve Smith not-out during a tricky run-out call on the 2nd day of the 5th Ashes Test.

The incident happened in the post-Tea session when England's substitute fielder George Ealham rushed in and threw the ball to keeper Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow dislodged the bails to spark celebrations in the English camp and the home crowd.

However, replays showed that Bairstow had not fully dislodged the bailout of their groove before Smith got his bat past the popping crease.



As per law 29.1 of cricket: "the wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground."

Menon made the right call by adjudging Smith 'not out', a decision that proceeded to divide the cricketing ecosystem.

Speaking to Sky Cricket, Hussain admitted that while he normally does not have sympathy for the 3rd umpire given the fact that they have all the technology available to them to make a decision, but this case was completely different.

"It was the perfect storm for the third umpire. He had to decide when the dive was made, when the stumps were broken by Bairstow - did he have the ball in his hand - and which was broken first, which bail was out, and out of which groove? "I don't have much sympathy for third umpires, because they have all the technology and a lot of time to get to the right decision," said Nasser Hussain to Sky Sports.

"But on this occasion I have a lot of sympathy. There was so much going on; we've had four England captains, two Australian captains and an Indian cricketer argue about it. I'm still not sure what the answer is this morning." he added.

Smith was eventually dismissed by Chris Woakes for 71 in the later part of the session.