Chris Gayle was given out on what should have been a free hit in one of several questionable calls by umpire Chris Gaffaney early on in the West Indies’ chase of Australia’s first innings total of 288 at Trent Bridge.
Gayle made an eventful 21 off 17 deliveries before he was given out lbw to Mitchell Starc, whose yorker struck the opener low on the shin. Gayle reviewed for the third time in his short innings, but the replay showed the ball clipping leg stump on umpire’s call and Gayle was sent back to the pavilion.
But a television replay showed that Starc had clearly overstepped on the previous delivery, and if Gaffaney had correctly called the no-ball, the wicket delivery would have been a free hit.
Gayle’s first review came in the third over, when he drove late at Starc and was given caught behind by Gaffaney. But, incredibly, the distinct sound of ball on wood did not come from Gayle’s bat but from the ball shaving the stumps; it failed to dislodge the bails.
Two balls later, Gayle was given lbw to another Starc yorker, but the decision was overturned once again when the DRS showed the ball pitching outside leg stump and going down leg side.
It was during Starc’s next over that Gayle made his third review, this time unsuccessfully. It was the first time a batsman has reviewed three times in a single ODI innings.