Ian Chappell slams Tim Paine for DRS blunder, says Aussie skipper lost his brain

More than Ben Stokes winning the 3rd Ashes Test for England, it were Australia who lost it, helping the hosts level the series 1-1. When Nathan Lyon dismissed Joe Root, Australia could sense claiming the Ashes but that was not the case. Small contributions from Jonny Bairstow helped the hosts before Stokes’ blinder set up one of the most thrilling Test game, before he repeating his WC final heroics by taking the side over the finish line.

However, Australia were guilty of dropping few tough chances. It also seemed like Australia, of all the teams in the world, felt some nerves. Nathan Lyon failed to collect the ball in attempt to run the last batsman Jack Leach out. The next ball he thought he had Stokes and the replays showed he actually had him but the umpire didn’t agree and the Kangaroos had wasted their review an over ago in desperation.

Tim Paine used Australia’s last review on a dubious lbw shout against No.11 Jack Leach, when the ball clearly pitched outside leg stump. Former Australia captain Ian Chappell said after the game that Paine “lost his brain” in the final hour. “When Leach got hit on the pad, clearly not out, by any stretch of the imagination, and the Australian’s reviewed it?” Chappell said on Channel Nine. “That was the moment the situation got to them, and Tim Paine lost his brain. Everyone knows it’s way outside leg,” added Chappell.

Chappell not the only one

Former wicketkeeping great Ian Healy said Paine “burnt a review stupidly” and it cost Australia the match. Meanwhile, another ex-Australian skipper Mark Taylor, now a pundit, was also stunned with the review, saying Paine used his reviews “frivolously”.

Australian media satisfied with thriller

Australian media was not happy with the review either. However, they were satisfied with the kind of game they had witnessed. The Melbourne Herald Sun said Stokes delivered England an “Ashes miracle. Ben Stokes began his incredible, match-winning knock a modern-day Geoffrey Boycott, and ended it looking like Adam Gilchrist,” it said. “Few Test innings have, or will, match it for guts, glamour and glory.”

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