Usman Khawaja edged the ball through to BJ Watling but, despite the nick being clearly heard, umpire Nigel Llong ignored the desperate appeals of the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images
Usman Khawaja edged the ball through to BJ Watling but, despite the nick being clearly heard, umpire Nigel Llong ignored the desperate appeals of the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images
Cricket's controversial review system is once again doing the Black Caps no favours early on in the second test against Australia in Perth.
Australia were well in control just before tea on the opening day at the WACA, with opener David Warner and Usman Khawaja in commanding form at thecrease.
But the Black Caps will feel that both should be back in the sheds following a couple of unlucky umpiring decisions.
Trent Boult looked to have trapped Warner lbw just after lunch, but umpire Nigel Llong ruled it not out. The Kiwis opted to review the decision, with the ball tracking technology showing it was hitting the top of the middle stump.
However, the DRS rules dictate the tracking must show at least 50 per cent of the ball hitting the stump for the decision to be overturned, and the challenge was turned down.
The loss of the review proved doubly costly when a chance to claim the wicket of Khawaja went begging mid-way through the second session.
Khawaja edged the ball through to BJ Watling but, despite the nick being clearly heard, Llong ignored the desperate appeals of the Kiwis. Both the hotspot and snicko technology showed Khawaja and got an outside edge to it.
It would have been a clear-cut decision for the third umpire, but the Black Caps had no further challenges up their sleeve after their two earlier unsuccessful attempts.
The Black Caps can only blame themselves however for being all out of challenges after an ill-advised decision to go upstairs early on.
Tim Southee appealed for an lbw decision against opener Joe Burns on 26, then referred it upstairs only to discover the batsman had got an inside nick to it.
Burns was later dismissed for 40 just before the lunch break.
