Contentious 'umpire's call' still a sore point

As the second Test headed for a gripping finale in Visakhapatnam, both India and England found themselves at the wrong end of the debatable 'umpire's call' component of the Decision Review System.

India, who ended their opposition to the DRS and agreed to trial an improved and upgraded version for the series, found the umpire's call come in the way of what they thought were favourable decisions during an enthralling fourth day's play.

The hosts showed their displeasure on the field when two close leg-before reviews in successive overs against Alastair Cook went in favour of the England captain due to the 'umpire's call' verdict.

In the first instance, the delivery from Ravindra Jadeja was hitting the outside part of the leg-stump and umpire Kumar Dharmasena's original decision correctly remained in favour of the batsman.

Quick Single: Stumps report - day four

Next over, the ball from Ravichandran Ashwin hit the centre of leg-stump but this time the line of impact between bat and ball may have been just outside the off-stump and Cook again benefited from the umpire's call.

The two verdicts annoyed Indian captain Virat Kohli enough for him to have a word with the umpires, who would probably have told him that rules are rules and need to be obeyed.

In the morning, the umpire's call had also gone against Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha after he reviewed a leg-before decision off Adil Rashid.

England fast bowler Stuart Broad was dealt a similar blow in the next over when a leg-before appeal against Kohli, who top-scored with 81, was turned down.

Quick Single: Australia make drastic changes for Adelaide

Replays showed the ball shaving the leg-stump but the umpire's call favoured the batsman since the original decision was not out.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believed both sides were hard done by the 'umpire's call'.

Fortunately for the hosts, Cook was lbw to Jadeja off what turned out to be the final ball of the day – this time the England captain losing his own review – and the relief in the Indian camp was discernible.

Till then, Cook had led a brilliant stonewalling effort after the tourists were set 405 for a win, a target never achieved before on Indian soil.

Quick Single: New Aussie opener's English connection

The England captain, who defended for 188 deliveries to make 54, and teenage opener Haseeb Hameed (25 off 144 balls) stayed together till the 51st over to put on 75 for the first wicket.

But with both openers gone by the day's end, England closed at 2-87 from 59.2 overs and will resume on the final day still needing 318 runs more to achieve an extraordinary win.

Although all four results are still possible, India will start as favourites to claim eight wickets in 90 overs on a pitch of uneven bounce offering slow turn to the spinners.

Top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said India had stepped closer to a win even though England shared the day's honours, first by bowling out the hosts for 204 in the morning session and then defying the spinners with the bat.

"When you are playing in India, chasing 400 is never easy," said Pujara. "We are happy with the way things went today. We got two wickets.

"Batting will not be easy on the last day because the cracks in the pitch are opening up.

"It will get tough for England, but we won't take things for granted because they are capable of batting well.

Quick Single: Gifted Blue to pull on a Baggy Green

"We are prepared to slog it out. That is how you win Test matches. I know we can take those eight wickets. I can't say how many overs it will take us to do that, but we have a very good chance."

Pujara said England's defensive tactics may let the tourists down.

"It becomes difficult to take wickets when the batsman goes defensive all the time, but that is something that can work against England also," he said.

"With the ball keeping low and sometimes rising from a good length spot, playing only defensive won't help."

India will get back their two reviews after the 80th over, which could prove decisive on what promises to be a fascinating last day's cricket.

International cricket is more affordable than ever this summer, with adult tickets from $30, kids from $10 and family packages from $65 across every day of international cricket. Price for purchase at match. Transaction fee from $6.95 applies to online and other purchases. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.