While there’s been ample chatter about whether Virat Kohli was or wasn’t out on day one of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the former Australia captain said he wasn’t convinced by the not-out decision, adding that in his opinion, it was clear that Smith had taken a catch. In the first session, very shortly after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal at Scott Boland’s expense, the seamer nearly got his second wicket on the trot when he found Kohli’s outside edge and had Smith dive to his right at second slip. But it seemed like Smith had got his fingers underneath the ball and flicked the grass on the ground while scooping the ball to Marnus Labuschagne at gully, something which TV umpire Joel Wilson spotted while ruling Kohli not out after seeing various camera angles.
Kohli was ruled not out on that occasion, a decision now the talk of the town in cricket, even as Smith was adamant that he took cleanly. “I was at the back of the (commentary) box as it happened, and based on what I saw–and, I believe, what the interpretation of the rules was–that, to me, seemed out.”
“The ball might have or might not have touched the ground, but the finger was underneath the ball, I thought it was a catch clearly,” said Ponting to The ICC Review show at the SCG after the match on Day One.
Correspondent Ponting-in his capacity as a commentary host for Channel Seven during the series-admitted that while there are not heaps of camera angles available, both sides will have to write their version of the same incident. ” It might also be one of those ones that depend on which dressing room he’s (Kohli) sitting in as well.”
No one will hear any Indian fans or Indian participants say that’s an out; rather, every one of them would declare it not out as it clearly touched the ground. But the reaction of the Australians there when it happened and even when they saw the replay on the big screen totally tells the story of how confident they were that it was out. Over the course of this Test match, though, I’m sure we’ve had a lot more discussion about it.”
Kohli remained unbeaten till lunch but was dismissed for 17 after lunch in the second session of day one after edging a Boland delivery to Beau Webster at third slip. At stumps today, Australia reached 9/1 in three overs after bowling out India for 185.
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