New Zealand await ICC clarification on Nathan Lyon’s DRS escape

New Zealand are awaiting clarification from the International Cricket Council regarding Nigel Llong’s contentious third umpire decision in the day-night Test against Australia after the ruling had an “impact” on the game, coach Mike Hesson has said.

Third umpire Long ruled there was not enough evidence to dismiss Nathan Lyon during Australia’s first innings when his attempted sweep-shot was caught in the slips, despite Hot Spot showing a mark on the bat.

Llong, however, noticed a white mark on Lyon’s bat from the front on view of Hot Spot then asks for another replay to look for a deflection. Australia, at that stage were on 118, trailing New Zealand by 84 runs.

The match, the first ever Day/Night Test, was eventually won by Australia on Day 3 with the narrow margin of 3 wickets.

As a result of the DRS escape, Lyon with Peter Nevill stitched 74-run ninth-wicket partnership to give the Australians a 22-run first innings lead.

“There is a process that needs to be followed with these decisions and we need to make sure that process was followed correctly”.

Hesson contacted match referee Roshan Mahanama but was tight lipped on what his side was specifically demanding from the ICC.

“The Hot Spot that showed up, Lyon walking off and almost getting to the boundary – I think it has had a big bearing on the match”, Taylor told reporters. “I think everyone at the ground saw what unfolded”, Hesson said.

Mike Hesson said New Zealand had asked the ICC to explain the decision not to give Nathan Lyon out in the third Test.

A confident New Zealand team went for a review after the on-field umpire Sundaram Ravi turned down the appeal. “We’ve certainly made a representation to the ICC and at present we’re still awaiting an acceptable response”.

“We’re going through the proper channels and we’re awaiting a response”, he said.

“But I guess we didn’t”. “It’s one of those things, with all that technology there and still couldn’t quite get a decision”, he said.

Meanwhile, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson played down the incident as he was adamant that Llong followed the right process, but in the end it came down to what he believes was a “judgement call”. “But it certainly had an impact”.

Richardson further insisted that the decisions are taken based on umpire’s judgement and there is no guarantee in which way it is going to go.

Taylor, who was trapped leg before off Hazlewood for 32, said that in addition to the nature of the controversial decision, it was the timing that made it crucial.