Watch: Steve Smith’s controversial run out decision divides fans, Marylebone Cricket Club reacts | Cricket News

The world of cricket was divided once again during the Ashes when third umpire Nitin Menon adjudged Australia batter Steve Smith to be not out following a controversial run out decision.
In the 78th over, Smith played a ball to midwicket and called for a two. As he dived to make his ground, initially it was thought that he had failed to get home as wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow dislodged the bails.
When the decision was sent upstairs it was seen from the initial replay that Bairstow had dislodged the bails before collecting the ball while Smith was short of the crease. However, after a closer check it was revealed that when Bairstow had removed the bails completely, Smith was inside the crease.

We have received a few questions regarding the decision in the below video.
Law 29.1 states: “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.” (1/2)#Ashes pic.twitter.com/RyZMgf5ItF
— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) July 28, 2023
Umpire Nitin Menon took the help of the replays and adjudged Smith to be not out, a decision which was met with boos from the England crowd.
However, Marylebone Cricket Club concurred with Menon and stated,” Law 29.1 states: “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.”
“Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, MCC’s Official Interpretation of the Laws of Cricket, adds: “For the purposes of dismissal – a bail has been removed at the moment that both ends of it leave their grooves.” it added.
In the match, Broad ended Usman Khawaja’s dogged resance for 47 and dismissed Travis Head before James Anderson bowled Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root removed Alex Carey and Mark Wood dismissed Mitchell Starc to lift England’s hopes of levelling the series.
Resuming on 61-1, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne had adopted a no-risk approach in the morning, adding only 21 runs in the first 12 overs before the latter was brilliantly caught Root at first slip off Wood for nine.
England, bowled out for 283 on the first day, rotated their fast bowlers in overcast conditions but failed to make the breakthrough until Wood struck.
Labuschagne edged him between wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and Root, who dived to his left and took the ball one-handed.
England captain Ben Stokes did not have the option of using his main spinner Moeen Ali, who sustained a groin injury while batting, but his quick bowlers produced disciplined spells to keep the hosts in the game as Australia reached 115-2 at lunch.