London: As it has been for centuries, the Ashes match has been thrilling and exciting, full of close fights, dramatic comebacks, and a few contentious calls that sparked debates on both sides.
Viewers saw another one on Friday, the second night of the fifth and final Test match at the Kennington Oval in London, when third umpire Nitin Menon made a tough decision against the England team's appeal to give Steve Smith a lifeline in Australia's first-innings chase.
Most people praised the umpire for the decision, but some Indian fans made a playful "Virat Kohli" jab at him.
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Smith pushed Chris Woakes' delivery toward square leg in the 78th over of Australia's first innings and then sprinted off for two runs.
Nevertheless, replacement fielder George Ealham dashed in from the boundary rope to throw the call to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who managed to remove the bails at the striker's end just in time to prevent a diving Smith from returning.
Smith's knock had ended when the former Australia captain was more than halfway down to the pavilion, according to the third umpire's initial review of the replay. However, a different perspective showed that Bairstow had already moved one of the bails before he picked up the ball.
Menon watched the video several times before finally declaring Smith not out as he turned to face the middle. Smith's knock had ended when the former Australia captain was more than halfway down to the pavilion, according to the third umpire's initial review of the replay.
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Menon watched the video several times before finally declaring Smith not out as he turned to face the middle.
The majority of users on Twitter praised the Indian umpire for making the difficult call, but some fans showed no mercy to Menon by poking fun at him with reminders of Kohli.
Menon has ejected Kohli in a number of instances under questionable circumstances, which each time sparked a discussion on social media. In fact, after Travis Head had escaped an Indian review call during the fourth Test, Kohli had roasted him during the Border-Gavaskar series at home in March. Then, as he approached the umpire, the former India captain made a lighthearted remark, "Mai hota to out tha (Would have been out if I was the batter)". Menon raised his finger in response and couldn't help but smile.
Woakes eventually bowled Smith out for 71 off 123 in the 90th over. Australia was folded for 295 runs at the end of Day 2, but they still managed to take the lead by a slim margin of 12 runs.
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