This isn’t the first time the Stokes ICC has proposed abolishing soft signals. He had expressed similar views after England’s loss to South Africa in his T20I last year.
His third and final Test between Australia and South Africa in Sydney saw fresh controversy on the opening day, with the tourists stunned by his third referee decision. Marnus Labuchagne was the batsman involved when he was caught by Simon Hamer on the first slip of Marco Jansen’s bowling.
On-field referee Paul Reifel gently signaled before sending him upstairs for the final decision. After much deliberation TV umpire Richard Kettlebrough overturned Reiffel’s decision and asked Labuschange to continue batting.
Labuschange was later dismissed on 79 by Anrich Nortje, but the not-out decision by Kettlebrough drew plenty of eyeballs from both fans and experts. England’s premier-allrounder and red-ball captain Ben Stokes was one of the many, who suggested ICC to get rid of the soft signal entirely and his views was backed by former India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Sharing a video of the controversial not-out decision on Twitter, Stokes wrote:
“ICC should get rid of the soft signal and let the 3rd umpire who has all the technology to make the decision when the on field umpires send it upstairs, all the controversy is always around the soft signal given. This isn’t a comment on the decision FYI.”
Harbhajan Singh was one of the many respondents, who called soft signals as absolute waste of time. “Absolute waste of time (soft signal). What’s the point of giving a soft signal when you’re referring to the third umpire anyway…Let the third umpire decide,” said the former cricketer. Tweeted.
This isn’t the first time the Stokes ICC has proposed scrapping its soft signal. He had expressed similar views after England’s loss to South Africa in his T20I last year.
Back in the Tests, Australia, who won the toss and chose to bat, finished his day on 147/2 stumps.