Stuart Broad weighs in as England hit with 'horrific decision' and India benefit from 'incredible' moment

Stuart Broad weighs in as England hit with 'horrific decision' and India benefit from 'incredible' moment

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as England battle India in a Test series

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 16/02/2024

- 13:09

Updated: 16/02/2024

- 13:54

The tourists had a successful second day despite being on the end of a tough call

Stuart Broad has joined in with the criticism of DRS after India benefitted from a tight decision on the second day of the third Test against England in Rajkot.

Ollie Pope was adjudged by the technology to be out LBW after Rohit Sharma had reviewed Joel Wilson's initial not-out call.


England were cruising on 182-1 in their first innings when Pope was pinned in front by Mohammed Siraj on the final ball of the 30th over.

Siraj and the Indian fielders appealed vociferously but standing umpire Wilson did not think the ball was heading for the stumps.

Stuart Broad and Ollie Pope

Stuart Broad joined with the criticism of Ollie Pope after DRS adjudged the England batter out

Getty/TNT Sports

Sharma consulted with Siraj and the decision was sent upstairs to the third umpire.

Replays appeared to suggest the ball may be heading down the leg side as well as hitting Pope high above the knee roll.

But DRS deemed the ball to have been smashing into the top of leg stump and three reds meant Pope was sent on his way.

Former India batter Deep Dasgupta was on commentary at the time and described Sharma's referral as 'incredible'.

Dasgupta said: "That's an incredible call from Rohit Sharma. Against the run of play. Brilliant from Siraj as well.

"Five short balls and then the one that was a lot fuller. And that was hitting top of leg.

"Ollie Pope's got to go back. Brilliant from Siraj, brilliant from Rohit."

While former England spinner Graeme Swann said: "There we go, the short theory has worked. Not in the way we expected but the LBW comes."

However, the decision did not go down well on social media, with many venting their frustration at the technology.

Legendary former England bowler Broad also gave his verdict, writing on X: "Looks high to me for 3 reds!"

The official Specsavers X account simply wrote: "Can you give glasses to a computer?"

While another former England cricketer, Rikki Clarke, could also not believe the call, writing: "Wow!! How has that been given out."

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Ollie Pope LBW

The ball appeared to hit England batter Ollie Pope high on the pad

TNT Sports

Cricket fans gave their scathing verdicts to the decision.

One X user wrote: "Definitely too high and probably going down, umpires call at very best. Indian DRS strikes again."

While another put: "Blimey they swapped DRS for VAR. Surely that wasn’t hitting."

Another supporter had sympathy for Pope, who had looked good for his 39.

They wrote: "You have to assume the technology is correct but looked high and leg side to me, Pope can consider himself unlucky."

Ollie Pope LBW

Ollie Pope was visibly frustrated after he was given out by DRS

TNT Sports

While one fan simply bluntly put: "That's a horrific decision. It's so high it nearly hit him on the thigh pad."

India had earlier posted 445 all out, with Mark Wood finishing with figures of 4-114.

England, led by a stunning century by Ben Duckett, ended the day on 207-2, trailing by 238 runs.

Duckett brought up his hundred off 88 balls and will resume in the morning unbeaten on 133.

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