"He would have remained not out for sure if the correct decision was given" - Sanjay Bangar on Marcus Stonis' controversial dismissal in AUS-SA clash

Sanjay Bangar believes Marcus Stoinis was erroneously given out in the World Cup 2023 clash between Australia and South Africa.

The Proteas set the Aussies a 312-run target after being asked to bat first in Lucknow on Thursday, October 12. Pat Cummins and company were then bundled out for 177, with Stoinis and Steve Smith given out slightly controversially, to lose the game by 134 runs.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar was asked about his thoughts on Stoinis and Smith's dismissals. Regarding the former, he said:

"If we talk about Stoinis, I feel it was a debatable decision by the third umpire because when the third umpire had all the footage to see and he had time, he erred there."

The former Indian all-rounder added:

"He (third umpire) said that he feels the glove was no longer on the handle but it was in contact with the top hand. We didn't feel that the bottom hand was in contact with the top hand anywhere. That is why, he would have remained not out for sure if the correct decision was given."

The third umpire apparently ruled Stoinis out based on one frame where the two gloves seemed to be in contact. However, another angle clearly showed that the two gloves were far apart when the ball hit the bottom hand which was not in contact with the bat, but the umpire seemed to have missed that.

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"Steve Smith's dismissal was totally about the technology" - Sanjay Bangar

Steve Smith was given out leg-before after South Africa reviewed the on-field not-out decision. [P/C: AP]

On the flip side, Sanjay Bangar pointed out that Steve Smith's dismissal cannot be attributed to manual error. He said:

"Steve Smith's dismissal was totally about the technology because it was regarding the ball tracker. Steve Smith is a batter who covers his stumps while playing."

The former Indian batting coach reckons the ball-tracker was potentially correct. He reasoned:

"If a normal batter was playing while taking the leg-stump guard, you think the ball might have missed down the leg side if he gets hit on the front leg. However, Steve Smith is a batter who when he gets hit on the pads, he always becomes an lbw candidate."

Kagiso Rabada's delivery seemed to be headed down the leg side when Smith was struck on the pads. However, the ball-tracking system showed the ball hitting the stumps, which left virtually everyone on the ground surprised.