Aussie Legend Accuses Joe Root Of 'Blatant Cheating'

Former Australia fast-bowler Andy Bichel has called England captain Joe Root a cheat for claiming a controversial catch in the second Ashes test at Lord’s. Bichel, who won the World Cup with Australia, said that Root’s action was ‘blatant cheating’ after the latter took a highly controversial catch in Australia’s second innings.

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Root claimed the catch of substitute batsman Marnus Labuschagne – who was brought into the test as international cricket’s first-ever concussion substitute for Steve Smith – on day five of the test. Replays showed that the ball appeared to touch the ground before Root caught it. However, Root was adamant that he had caught the ball cleanly and the catch was soon cleared by the third umpire.

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But it has not stopped the cricketing world from discussing about the catch. Andy Bichel has also joined the bandwagon now.  Speaking on Macquarie Sports Radio on Wednesday, Bichel said Root would have known the ball didn’t carry cleanly into his hands.

“It didn’t carry – you can see that,” Bichel said.

“It’s ricocheted off the player as well, so it’s bobbled a little bit to him. He knows he’s picked it up on the half-volley. It’s blatant cheating. To stand there and then all of a sudden give Marnus a bit of a send-off as well – ‘Mate, you’re out, get off here’ – when Marnus has seen the footage of it on the TV as well, that he’s not out and he shouldn’t be out.

It was a real bizarre one from Joe, a man of that experience playing it out like it did,” Bichel told Macquarie Sports Radio.

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The second Test, nonetheless, ended in a thrilling draw. Set an improbable target of 267, Australia finished on 154 for 6 to salvage a draw. Australia continue to lead the five-match series 1-0. The Third Test will get underway on Thursday (August 22) at Leeds.