Root fumes as third umpire gives Stoneman out

England have made an official complaint after the controversial dismissal of opener Mark Stoneman in this third Magellan Ashes Test.

UK newspaper The Mirror is reporting skipper Joe Root has spoken to the match referee Sir Richie Richardson not so much about the fact that Stoneman was dismissed, but rather the method by which the decision was made by third umpire Aleem Dar.

QUICK SINGLE Stoneman's stoic dig ends in controversy

On Thursday, Stoneman was given not out on the field but that decision was quickly reversed after a review, leaving Root visibly frustrated by the outcome. The skipper backhanded the changeroom door in the visitors' viewing area as he and his teammates looked perplexed at the decision.

While extensive replays indicated the correct decision was ultimately reached, The Mirror is reporting the fact Dar reversed the on-field decision so quickly and after viewing only a handful of replays has left the tourists disenchanted with the review process.

"We thought it was out straight away": Paine

Stoneman gloved a searing Mitchell Starc bouncer through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine who took a spectacular leaping catch above his head, but was initially given not out by standing umpire Marais Erasmus.

Replays showed Stoneman fending in front his face but as the ball passed by, his bottom hand came off the bat. At the same time, Real Time Snicko displayed a spike of noise as the ball passed the glove that was off the bat.

It's not about silencing the critics: Ponting

Third umpire Aleem Dar ruled there was conclusive evidence and overturned Erasmus’s on-field decision and Stoneman was on his way.

Further replays and angles after Stoneman had left the middle vindicated Dar's decision, with the ball grazing the batsman's top hand with an RTS spike confirming contact.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the reaction from the England dressing room had made them "look silly" and was "a horrible look for the game".

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"The thing about the decision being made when it was as well, it’s actually made Joe Root and a lot of the England guys look silly," Ponting said on UK broadcaster BT Sport.

"They’re out on the balcony complaining about the decision (but) as it’s turned out, it was the right call."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

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