'Isne World Cup jitya tha England ko'- Fans react as Kumar Dharmasena throws light on Steve Smith's runout on Day 2 of fifth Ashes Test

England veteran pacer Stuart Broad has disclosed that umpire Kumar Dharmasena had told him that if zing bails had been used for Ashes 2023, Steven Smith would have been run out on Day 2 of the fifth Test of Ashes at Kennington Oval.

On day two of the fifth Ashes series, Smith was saved from being run out on 'benefit of 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.

I honestly don't know the rules: Stuart Broad

Opening up on the same, Broad said following the second day’s play, "I honestly don't know the rules. I think there was enough grey area to give that not out. It looked like the benefit of doubt sort of stuff, first angle I saw I thought out, and then the side angle it looked like the bails probably dislodged."

He further added, "Kumar said to me if it was zing bails it would have been given out, I don't really understand the reasoning why." Under the Laws, the bail has to be completely removed. Law 29.1 states: "The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground."

Smith had started to walk off when he first saw the replay on the big screen. He said, "I saw the initial replay and saw the bail come up, and when I looked at it the second time looked like Jonny might have knocked the bail before the ball had come." "Looked pretty close at that stage, if the ball had hit at the initial stage when the bail came then think I was well out of my ground."

Australia were bundled out for just 295 runs, but they ensure a slender lead of 12 runs. With their captain once again scoring some vital runs at the tail-end.

Here's how fans reacted: 

If Kumar Dharmasena did the proper umpiring, England didn't win the World Cup

😅😅😅

— Ash (@Ashsay_) July 29, 2023

Kumar hates Australia

— Axciem (@AxciemG) July 29, 2023

24*7 RR by broad.

— *Roe Joot* (@ImGani22) July 29, 2023

Dharmasena always biased towards England

— NIKHIL (@nikhil_nsu) July 29, 2023

Stuart broad will always keep wondering about everything.... He is a annoying character... Especially during lbw shouts!!!

— Pratik SATISH (@champ_tweetz) July 29, 2023

England and the should have, would have, could have, it felt like we won. Never seen a team play with more excuses, less spirit of the cricket and also not enough care about winning. It’s become pathetic

— matt zellinsk (@zellinsk) July 29, 2023

England cricket players don't understand the reasoning whenever they're in the Receiving end.

— Pavankumar (@pavankumarmsc9) July 29, 2023

I still wonder how Kunar Dharmasena is still an international umpire even after having a history of howlers in big matches.

— Harminder (@21harminder) July 29, 2023