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Controversy as Moeen victim of sharp Paine

Michael Clarke questions the third umpire decision to give England's Moeen Ali out on the fourth afternoon at the Gabba

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has cast doubt on a controversial stumping that saw England allrounder Moeen Ali given out by the third umpire on the fourth afternoon of the opening Magellan Ashes Test.

Moeen was ruled out by third umpire Chris Gaffaney after recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine was quick as a flash in whipping off the bails when Moeen pushed forward and missed a Nathan Lyon delivery.

Mooen's large stride dragged his back foot forward and upon review the third umpire declared no part of the batsman's shoe was grounded behind the popping crease. 

"I disagree with that decision," Clarke said on the Wide World of Sports broadcast.

"I thought he had something behind the line and I thought the benefit of the doubt had to go to the batsman. That is a huge wicket to Australia.

"Tim Paine was the only one that appealed, he was confident straight away, but so was Ali. As soon as they referred it, he was very confident."


Referring to footage from the stump camera, Clarke declared: "I don't think you can clearly say there is something not behind the line, and the benefit of the doubt must go to the batsman in my opinion."

However, Gaffaney called for the zoom angle on the side-on footage which appeared to show Moeen's boot was on the line.

Shane Warne contradicted Clarke and said he agreed with the decision. "I don't see any reason to not give that out," the Australian spin legend said on commentary.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan added: "I think it was fair, it was obviously very tight. I also reckon it's the thickest crease line I've ever seen." 

Under the Laws of cricket, the line belongs to the umpire and a batsman must have something grounded beyond the white paint to be safe. 

The Gabba popping crease was put under the microscope by fuming England supporters and press following Moeen's dismissal, claiming variously a "wobbly" popping crease or, for those particularly inclined to conspiracy theory, that a "thicker paintbrush" had caused Moeen's downfall.

The Sun correspondent John Etheridge first claimed a "bulge" in the line conspired against Moeen, before alledging Gabba groundstaff had produced a thicker paintbrush than their usual tools to paint a wider popping crease.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

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

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.

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21