News Analysis

Three strikes, still not out

Recapping a hectic period of play on the first day in Chittagong where Kumar Dharmasena became a little trigger happy

Moeen Ali and Kumar Dharmasena have been closely associated with each other since the net session at Lord's in 2014, during the early days of Moeen's Test career, when Dharmasena offered some tips for Moeen's offspin. On the opening day in Chittagong, the pair were involved in an extraordinary passage of play either side of lunch which kept the third umpire busy as Moeen was reprieved three times in six deliveries through the DRS (ironically, too, after Bangladesh would have removed Moeen on 1 had they reviewed an lbw appeal against his seventh delivery).
26.5 Shakib Al Hasan to Ali, no run, another big appeal, this time the finger goes up! Moeen has been dicing with danger, hit on the pads again and Kumar Dharmasena likes it - but England review. Shakib was bowling from over the wicket, the ball again spinning in to the southpaw, as with the review off Taijul... Moeen this time playing the sweep and struck on the front pad. Don't think there was bat/glove on this... Or is that a murmur on Ultra Edge? Yes, it would appear so: S Ravi is convinced, anyway. A scrape of bat tape on it and the decision is overturned!
28.2 Shakib Al Hasan to Ali, no run, that's much better! Tossed up, pins Moeen on the front pad, and up goes the finger! Moeen has reviewed, again, but this looks adjacent ...the DRS parameters have been tweaked in favour of bowlers, so if this is clipping, it is out... the tension is unbearable ... but it is missing! Spinning too much... golly
28.4 Shakib Al Hasan to Ali, no run, another sweep, another appeal, another review! Well this is extraordinary. Umpire Dharmasena's finger is incredibly itchy at the moment - he has raised it three times in six balls! - but this one looked as though it was outside the line. There's no bat involved... and indeed, it is outside the line!