Why soft signal wasn’t used to decide Shubman Gill wicket
World Test Championship
The second Test match since the removal of the soft signal saw the TV umpire forced into a difficult decision during the ICC World Test Championship Final.
Shubman Gill’s edge off Scott Boland flew to Cameron Green in the slips, where he stooped to take a catch low to his left.
But there was some doubt over whether or not the ball touched the ground in the process of Green taking the catch, meaning the decision went upstairs to television umpire Richard Kettleborough.
Video
World Test Championship
10 Jun 23
Wicket! TV umpire rules catch as Green stunner removes Gill | WTC23 Final
Cameron Green took a low catch to send back Shubman Gill as India lost their first wicket of the second innings at the stroke of Tea.
The Australian fielder got his fingers under the ball, but Gill and his fellow India opener Rohit Sharma felt that the ground could also have come into play in the process of the catch being taken.
After lengthy deliberation and the studying of numerous angles and replays, the decision to give the catch was made and a visibly frustrated Gill was forced to leave the field of play.
The dismissal was the final action before tea, with India one down in search of a record chase total of 444.
Video
World Test Championship
10 Jun 23
Wicket! Australia declare after Cummins’ wicket | WTC23 Final
Australia declared after losing the wicket of Pat Cummins, setting India a target of 444 on Day 4.
The incident was particularly noteworthy given the lack of a soft signal in the decision-making process.
The soft signal regulation was removed from the ICC Playing Conditions at the start of June, with the new laws coming into play for the first time when England played Ireland at Lord’s a week ago.
“The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken,” the ICC confirmed when the changes was announced in May.
“Soft signals have been discussed at previous cricket committee meetings over the last couple of years,” Sourav Ganguly of the Men’s Cricket Committee added.
“The committee deliberated this at length and concluded that soft signals were unnecessary and at times confusing since referrals of catches may seem inconclusive in replays.”
