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Ashes: Were Umpires Right In Ruling Out Ben Stokes' Catch Of Steve Smith? ICC Makes Big Statement

Team England needed a crucial wicket on the last day of the last Ashes Test to contain Australia and believed they had Australia's star batter Steve Smith close to lunch on Day 5 but the batter was ruled not out. In the 66th over, Smith was batting on 39 and England captain Ben Stokes appeared to have caught the ball at leg gully as it popped off the batter's glove of Moeen Ali's loopy delivery. Umpire Joel Wilson said it was not out and Stokes went for review.

Watch: Ben Stokes Celebrates Too Early, Drops Steve Smith's Catch In Bizarre Fashion

Ben Stokes gave Australia's Steve Smith a potentially match-changing reprieve after early wickets revived England's hopes of a series-levelling win on the last day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Monday. Australia were 238-3 at lunch, needing 146 more runs to reach a mammoth target of 384 runs, with rain threatening to intervene. Smith, then on 39, gloved off-spinner Moeen Ali onto his thigh in the last over before lunch. The ball looped to England captain Stokes at leg gully, who grabbed it one-handed above his head. But as his arm came down, his hand clipped his leg and he dropped the ball. Star batsman Smith was initially given not out and an England review confirmed Stokes's error.

"When Its Virat Kohli...": Twitter Divided Over Nitin Menon's Controversial "Non" Run Out Call

From Cameron Green's catch in the first Test to Jonny Bairstow's stumping in the second Test, the ongoing Ashes between England and Australia has been full of controversies. On Day 2 of the ongoing fifth and final Test at The Oval, the fans witnessed another controversy erupt when Australia batter Steve Smith survived a close run out call, with some help from TV umpire Nitin Menon. In the 78th over of Australia's first innings, Smith seemed to have fallen short when England's substitute fielder George Ealham and Bairstow combined to affect a run out.

"Have To Applaud...": Ravichandran Ashwin's Interesting Take On Steve Smith's "Non" Run Out

The Day 2 of the ongoing second Ashes Test between England and Australia grabbed a lot of eyeballs after Steve Smith survived a close run-out call. Smith was clearly out of the crease when wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow had hit the stumps. However, Smith was declared not out by the third umpire, as per the MCC rules. This decision invited a lot of controversy as many cricketers and fans expressed their opinion regarding the same. However, India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin backed third umpire Nitin Menon for making the "right decision".

Marylebone Cricket Club Issues Big Statement Over Steve Smith Controversial "Non" Run Out

Huge controversy erupted on Day 2 of the ongoing fifth and final Ashes Test as Australia batter Steve Smith survived a close run-out call. England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow grabbed the ball in time and went on to dislodge the bails as Smith made a diving effort to get inside the crease. The decision was referred to the third umpire, Nitin Menon, and after checking different angles, the decision went in Smith's favour. The replays showed that the Bairstow was guilty of removing one of the bails before the collecting the ball.

Watch: Run Out Or Not? Controversy In Ashes Again As Steve Smith Survives Call

Day 2 of the ongoing second Ashes ended in the favour of England as the hosts bundled out Australia for 295, giving them a lead by 12 runs. It was a dominant show from the entire bowling unit of England as Chris Woakes took three wickets while the likes of Stuart Broad, Joe Root, and Mark Wood took two wickets each. However, the day also turned out to be controversial after Australia batter Steve Smith and England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow got involved in a bizarre run-out.

"Kumar Dharmasena Told Me...": Stuart Broad Reveals Chat With Umpire As Steve Smith Survives Close Call

England bowler Stuart Broad disclosed that umpire Kumar Dharmasena told him that in the arguable call of run out, Australian batter Steven Smith would have been given out if zing bails had been in use. On the day two of the fifth Ashes series, Smith was saved from a run out on the "benefit of the doubt" to batter. At first, it seemed that Smith was short of his ground. But, after seeing replays, umpire Nitin Menon ruled that the bail was not completely dislodged from both grooves of Jonny Bairstow until Smith was in his crease.

England vs Australia, 5th Ashes Test, Day 2: Steve Smith Leads Australia's Revival, Match Hangs In Balance

Steve Smith's 71 helped Australia recover from a batting collapse as the tourists frustrated England by establishing a first-innings lead in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on Friday. Australia were eventually bowled out with what became the last ball of the second day for 295, 12 runs ahead of England's 283. It looked as if England would enjoy a sizeable advantage as veteran seamer Stuart Broad sparked a slump that saw Australia decline from 115-2 to 185-7.

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Ashes: Were Umpires Right In Ruling Out Ben Stokes' Catch Of Steve Smith? ICC Makes Big Statement

Watch: Ben Stokes Celebrates Too Early, Drops Steve Smith's Catch In Bizarre Fashion

"When Its Virat Kohli...": Twitter Divided Over Nitin Menon's Controversial "Non" Run Out Call

"Have To Applaud...": Ravichandran Ashwin's Interesting Take On Steve Smith's "Non" Run Out

Marylebone Cricket Club Issues Big Statement Over Steve Smith Controversial "Non" Run Out

Watch: Run Out Or Not? Controversy In Ashes Again As Steve Smith Survives Call

"Kumar Dharmasena Told Me...": Stuart Broad Reveals Chat With Umpire As Steve Smith Survives Close Call

England vs Australia, 5th Ashes Test, Day 2: Steve Smith Leads Australia's Revival, Match Hangs In Balance