DRS, stump mic in the spotlight

Technology and umpire Richard Illingworth were again a flashpoint in the trans-Tasman Test series with a controversial ruling that had New Zealand commentators describing the Australians as "intolerable".

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson was on 88 and providing stubborn resistance in Australia's quest for a victory that would see them secure the world No.1 ranking when he was struck on the pad by a full delivery from Josh Hazlewood bowling around the wicket.

The appeal was turned down by standing umpire Ranmore Martinesz and, after checking the ball had pitched in line, Steve Smith quickly called for a review.

Umpire Illingworth found evidence that Williamson had got an inside edge onto the ball from the slow-motion replay and Hot-Spot camera angles. He did not use the Real-Time Snicko technology available to him. 

Having decreed there was an edge, Illingworth did not proceed to ball-tracking, which showed the ball to have pitched in line with leg stump and hitting the wickets.

Umpire Illingworth was the standing umpire in the first Test of this series in Wellington, when he incorrectly called Doug Bracewell for a no-ball that reprieved Adam Voges, who had been bowled. Voges went on to add 232 runs.

The Australians were seemingly incredulous at Illingworth's ruling here and Smith sought to clarify the verdict with Umpire Martinesz. Smith shook his head in disagreement as he turned away and Hazlewood also spoke to the umpire.

The New Zealand host broadcaster had the stump microphone levels elevated as fast bowler Hazlewood was heard to exclaim, "Who the **** is the third umpire". stump mic audio was then isolated and posted on social media by Radio Sport NZ.

The outburst cost Hazlewood 15 per cent of his match fee after he was charged and pleaded guilty to "showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match", and the fast bowler was spoken to by both on-field umpires as the session closed at the end of the over.

It prompted New Zealand commentators Ian Smith and Mark Richardson to complain about the Australians' behaviour as Smith tried to clarify the decision.

"I'm sorry, but that's intolerable," Richardson said.

"There's a few players out there that need to come to the realisation they do the playing, not the umpiring," the former New Zealand opener added. 

Ian Smith, a former Black Caps wicketkeeper, said: "You cannot come down and question him (Umpire Martinesz) and be angry like that."

"You live by the sword you die by the sword, he gave it not out, you asked, they provided the evidence, he does not deserve a grilling.

"It goes your way or it doesn't you have to accept it. He gave it not out, technology proved it to be the right decision."

New Zealand reached lunch on the fourth morning at 4-197, a 62-run lead with Williamson and Corey Anderson having added 92 runs for the fifth wicket. 

As it transpired, Williamson was only able to add a further nine runs after the lunch break before he inside-edge a delivery onto his stumps from Jackson Bird after Australia took the new ball.

Australia-NZ Umpiring Flashpoints 

Adelaide

Nathan Lyon was reprieved despite Hot Spot technology suggesting he was out. Lyon was facing debutant spinner Mitchell Santner shortly after tea and as he attempted to sweep the ball, it passed the back of his bat, ricocheted off his shoulder and went through to first slip, who held the catch and appealed for the dismissal.

The decision was referred to television umpire Nigel Llong, who viewed numerous replays as play was held up for in excess of five minutes.

Hotspot technology showed a white mark on the back of Lyon's bat, and as it appeared on the big screen at the Adelaide Oval, Lyon began walking from the field, assuming he was set to be given out.

Snickometer was then used in an attempt to pick up the noise of the ball connecting with the back of the bat, however it failed to register any sound, and Lyon promptly began returning to the middle.

Wellington

Adam Voges shouldered arms and was bowled by Doug Bracewell, only for standing umpire Richard Illingworth to signal a no-ball on the field.

Replays, however, showed that Bracewell did in fact have part of his heel behind the line. However, ICC playing conditions mean the third umpire is powerless to intervene after a call on the field has been made.

Voges went on to add a further 232 runs before being dismissed.

Christchurch

The Australians went up in unison as Kane Williamson was rapped on the pads by Josh Hazlewood bowling around the wicket in the last over before lunch on the fourth day.

On-field umpire Ranmore Martinesz gave it not out and Aussie skipper Steve Smith immediately called for a review.

Third umpire Illingworth found enough evidence with slow-mo replays and Hot Spot to not require the use of Snicko and stayed with Martinesz's not-out dismissal. Further fuelling the Australians' chagrin was the Hot-Spot showing marks along the edge of Williamson's bat before the ball arrived, while the eventual ball-tracking information showed the delivery had pitched in line with leg-stump and was going on to hit the wickets.

A visibly dismayed Australian captain sought to clarify the decision with Martinesz, prompting New Zealand commentator Ian Smith to declare the players' behaviour 'intolerable'