The Ashes 2013: England make slow progress as Hot Spot removes Root

Relief as much maligned Decision Review System does its job

PA wire

9 August 2013

The sighs of relief could be felt from Durham to Dubai after the Decision Review System performed the task for which it was introduced, helping to end the innings of Joe Root on the first morning here.

Root was reprieved at first but when Australia referred the decision to third umpire Marais Erasmus, the much-criticised Hot Spot displayed a mark on the edge of the England opener’s bat, and he was gone for 16.

The umpires’ interpretation of DRS, and the apparent failure of Hot Spot to detect thin nicks, has been a recurring theme throughout the Ashes, to such an extent that the International Cricket Council sent a senior official from its headquarters in Dubai to the north-east to discuss the technology with England and Australia. The controversy escalated in the build-up to this match when the England and Wales Cricket Board demanded an apology from Australian television station Channel Nine.

Despite vehement denials from players and governing bodies, Channel Nine has refused to back down after naming Kevin Pietersen in a report suggesting players were using silicone tape on their bats to try to deceive Hot Spot.

Pietersen did not have the chance to take out his frustrations on the Aussie bowlers before lunch. Root’s was the only wicket to fall in an attritional first session, as England reached the interval 57 for one. After winning the toss, Alastair Cook was 21 not out, with Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 13.

Root was originally given not out by umpire Tony Hill when Australia appealed vociferously for a caught-behind chance off Shane Watson.

Australia called immediately for the review, placing Hot Spot in the spotlight immediately. Every player looked anxiously at the screen to see what evidence the technology would offer and fortunately, Hot Spot did its job this time.

A faint mark on the edge of Root’s bat confirmed Australia’s instincts and the opener was sent on his way. Both the audio feed and Snicko, which is not used as part of DRS because it takes too long to prepare, supported the verdict of Hot Spot.

Cook chose to bat first but against the tourists’ disciplined seam attack, England’s progress was particularly sedate. There were no boundaries before the final ball of the 12th over, at which point Root drove Jackson Bird, who replaced Mitchell Starc in the only change to the Australia XI, to the rope.

Cook also hit a four off the next delivery from Watson but these were rare moments of attacking batting against the new ball. Even though Australia’s top six have been fragile for most of the series, their seam attack is extremely proficient. At a ground where seam bowlers usually prosper, this Test should offer interesting evidence about which team has the stronger unit. England were unchanged from Old Trafford, meaning Graham Onions was denied the chance to play an Ashes match on home soil.

While England stick with a three-man pace attack of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, Onions, Chris Tremlett and Steve Finn are struggling to force their way in. Watson’s all-round abilities give Australia greater flexibility with the ball, and enabled them to have Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Bird in the XI, along with off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

All three members of England’s top order have struggled in this series, with the exception of Root’s 180 that earned him the man-of-the-match award in the Second Investec Test at Lord’s.

Before today, Jonathan Trott had passed 50 only once in the series and his first scoring shot was unconvincing, an edge off Siddle that dropped just short of the slip cordon and sneaked its way to the boundary.

It was one of only three fours during the first two hours on a slow outfield.

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The Ashes 2013: England make slow progress as Hot Spot removes Root

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