AB de Villiers backs Ben Stokes' 'technology got it wrong' claim on Zak Crawley’s controversial dismissal

Zak Crawley’s dismissal in the second innings of the second Test in Vizag has raised a lot of eyebrows as it was initially given not out by the umpire but Rohit Sharma took the DRS which saw the ball hitting the leg stump. As a result, Zak Crawley was given out LBW. However, after the match, Ben Stokes expressed his disappointment with the technology as the ball was not looking like it clearly hit the stumps. Former South Africa captain and legend AB de Villiers also came in support of Ben Stokes as he deemed technology at fault for the dismissal.

Zak Crawley scored 73 off 132 balls in the second innings of the Test and got out to Kuldeep Yadav. Crawley’s wicket turned out to be a turning point in the match as India won the Test match by 106 runs. Zak Crawley was the best performer for England with the bat in both innings as he scored 76 and 73 in both innings and looked like he could take the game away from India.

AB de Villiers felt that the ball was not hitting the leg stump and said that it should have been the umpire’s call at best. He suggested that care must be taken to ensure the cameras are right in line with the stumps from both ends and not at an angle.

“I am looking at it now and I feel it is not hitting the leg stump (Crawley LBW). It might just clip or touch the outer part of the leg stump, which ultimately would be umpire’s call. Technology has made decisions more accurate, but they need to make sure that the cameras are right in line with the middle stump at both ends and not at an angle. Ben Stokes was a little bit upset and rightfully so,” said De Villiers.

Apart From Zak Crawley, No One From England Got To Fifty In The Second Test

Zak Crawley played two great innings in the second Test and was the best batter for England as no one could get to fifty from England apart from Zak Crawley. He might have been unlucky in the second innings as he was given out by the DRS but the opener played an aggressive knock to give England a fighting chance in the second Test. He has a good record in Test cricket as he has amassed 2404 runs in 76 innings at an average of 32.49 which includes 12 half-centuries and four centuries.

The five-match Test series between India and England is currently levelled at 1-1 as the hosts made a sensational comeback in Vizag winning the second Test by 106 runs after facing a defeat in Hyderabad by 28 runs in the first Test. The third Test of the series will be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot and both teams have a chance to take a lead in the series by winning this game.

India has not lost a Test series at home for more than a decade now and their last defeat in a home Test series came against England in 2012 when Sir Alastair Cook led the English side to a 2-1 victory. The hosts have won 16 consecutive Test series at home since 2012 and they are looking to win this series to continue their unbeaten streak in Test series at home.