#report

The Schrödinger's umpire's call

Tweet report for Day 2 of the fourth Ashes Test at Durham

Nikita Bastian
Nikita Bastian
10-Aug-2013
Day two in Durham begins with an Alastair Cook spotting.
On the field, it didn't take Australia long to claim the final England wicket. James Anderson was out in the second over of the day, and England were cleaned up for 238.
The conditions were conducive for bowling as England took the field.
Stuart Broad was in business early on, as David Warner - back in the openers' slot - was bowled while making up his mind whether to play the ball or not.
More indecision, another wicket for Broad, who was bowling at his best. Usman Khawaja was out for a duck.
If there wasn't DRS drama, it wouldn't be the Ashes 2013, would it? In the same Broad over, England waste a referral on one that pitches outside leg to Chris Rogers. Rogers is then given out caught behind by Tony Hill, only for DRS to find that he had not nicked it but would have been out via the umpire's call on lbw. A few minutes of confusion ensue.
For all that drama, the cricketing law was indeed upheld.
Broad wasn't done causing havoc yet. He kept threatening with pace and movement, but had his third courtesy Michael Clarke's wild swing to Cook at first slip.
Australia went to lunch on 75 for 3, and England didn't have to wait long after the interval for their next success. Steven Smith was caught behind lunging at one from Tim Bresnan. And that meant …
There followed a testing period for Watson and Rogers. Bresnan dropped a return chance from Watson, Rogers survived an edge to the cordon and got to fifty.
Rogers' wasn't the prettiest of innings, but he stuck around. As did Watson. Australia went to tea without losing another wicket.
The hundred partnership came up. The England attack flagged.
The camera panned the crowds for some colour. It was fancy-dress day at Chester le Street.
Watson got that elusive fifty.
But the hundred eluded him still. He was caught down the leg side on 68.
Rogers' scrappy innings got even scrappier in 90s. He was on 96 for 19 balls.
Eventually he got there ...
Three overs later, the players went off for bad light with Australia on 222 for 5. And that was stumps.

Nikita Bastian is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo