'That's the wrong call': Legends question no-ball decision

The decision not to reverse a Pat Cummins wicket due to an apparent no-ball has stumped a host of Australian greats on day one of the first Domain Test against Pakistan.

Cummins had wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan caught behind shortly after tea at the Gabba before the on-field officials told the Pakistani to wait on the ground while the third umpire checked for a no-ball.

And when replays appeared to show the heel of Cummins' front foot landing on – but not behind – the line, commentators speculated that Rizwan would be recalled to resume his innings.

But English third umpire Michael Gough upheld the on-field decision, leaving former Australian Test captain Allan Border among the many observers to question the call.

"I'm trying to find something behind (the line) there but I just can't," Border said on Fox Cricket commentary.

Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Ricky Ponting agreed.

"I think that's the wrong call. I think it's a no-ball and should be recalled," Gillespie said on ABC Radio.

Lee said even through Australian-tinted glasses he couldn't see how Rizwan wasn't recalled to the crease.

"I reckon that's hard on Pakistan, I think that's got to be called a no-ball," he said on Fox Cricket.

"You won't often hear me say this, but that's got to go to the batsman."

In commentary for Channel Seven, Ponting had no doubt that the wrong decision had been made.

"I couldn't see any part of his foot land behind the line," he said.

The ICC's Playing Conditions for Test cricket state, in part, that "the bowler's front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or raised … behind the popping crease".

In addition, it says the third umpire must have conclusive evidence of an incorrect decision in order to reverse a call made on the field.

Playing Condition 3.3.6 reads: "If despite the available technology, the third umpire is unable to decide with a high degree of confidence whether the original on-field decision should be changed, then he/she shall report that the replays are 'inconclusive', and that the on-field decision shall stand. The third umpire shall not give answers conveying likelihoods or probabilities".

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)