Australia skipper Aaron Finch opts for a bizarre LBW review in third ODI against England

After scripting a fascinating comeback in the second match of the three-game ODI series against Australia, hosts England won the toss and decided to bat first in the final encounter at Manchester. With the series being levelled 1-1, both the sides are aiming to put up an impressive show and seal the series.

Australia, without Steve Smith, braced the field under the leadership of Aaron Finch. For England, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow opened the batting attack but the former was shown the exit door by Mitchell Starc on the very first delivery. Roy registered a golden duck after he hit the ball straight towards Glenn Maxwell at backward point.

To plunge more misery on England, Starc struck again on the next delivery, trapping Joe Root plumb. Root’s woeful form continued as he failed to succumbed to Starc’s full-length delivery. After England’s dreadful start, it was Jonny Bairstow who stepped up and stitched a brilliant half-century to refuel his side’s run-flow. He currently is cruising towards his 10th ton in One-day Internationals.

Replays suggested that Jonny Bairstow’s bat brushed the pad

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Aaron Finch and Adam Zampa were involved in taking a bizarre DRS review on the last delivery of 19th over. Zampa, who was bowling to Bairstow, was so convinced about the ball hitting the pad first that it led to Finch taking a ridiculous review.

There were two noises and the replays suggested that it was actually Bairstow’s bat which brushed the pad and the ball never came close. Zampa instantly made a huge appeal for LBW, thinking that he had got the vital wicket of Bairstow. But the replays showed otherwise.

Twitter instantly came up with tweets poking fun at Finch’s bizarre decision to go for a review. This is not the first time when such an instance has happened during England-Australia limited-overs series.

In the second T20I at Rose Bowl, England were trolled for taking a terrible DRS review when Finch was at the crease. Finch defended Adil Rashid’s loopy leg-break delivery on the front foot but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler thought that the ball hit the pad first. With the help of Rashid, he convinced captain Eoin Morgan to take a review. However, the replays revealed the ball had literally hit the middle of Finch’s bat.

England, meanwhile, have registered 168/4 at Drinks. Sam Billings (33) and Bairstow (89) are currently in the middle, hoping to steer England to a commendable total.

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