Black Caps vs England: Tom Latham dismissed in controversial fashion

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When your luck’s out, your luck’s out.

Tom Latham and the Black Caps found that on day two of the second cricket test against England on Saturday when the opener was given out caught, twice, when he was adamant the ball hit his arm guard.

Latham was on 35 and well set when he attempted a reverse sweep off spinner Jack Leach and the ball ballooned to Joe Root at first slip.

On-field umpire Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand gave it out as Latham pointed to his arm guard and immediately reviewed the decision.

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It fell to television umpire Aleem Dar of Pakistan to view numerous replays, and he eventually ruled the ball had brushed the wristband of Latham’s glove, which under the laws counts as the batter hitting the ball.

Tom Latham is unmoved as England’s Ben Foakes screams the appeal for caught.

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Tom Latham is unmoved as England’s Ben Foakes screams the appeal for caught.

Still it’s a decision the Black Caps may dispute, as Latham departed the Basin Reserve shaking his head. Front-on replays showed the ball appearing to hit the strap on Latham’s arm guard, which would be not out.

From side-on it looked more like Gaffaney and Dar were correct. The TV umpire needs conclusive evidence to over-rule the on-field decision.

It happened at the wrong time for the hosts who plunged to 60-4 in reply to England’s first innings of 435-8 declared, already 1-0 down in the series.

Tom Latham of New Zealand trudges off after his dismissal to Jack Leach.

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Tom Latham of New Zealand trudges off after his dismissal to Jack Leach.

Former Black Cap Craig McMillan on the Spark Sport commentary said it was the correct decision.

“It might not hit the physical glove but it hits that inch and a half bit of armband – that counts as the glove,” he said.

McMillan added: “It’s one of those decisions where, if things aren’t going your way it tends to go against you.

“This [front on replay] looks like it hits the arm guard first, there, but it’s actually hit the glove or the arm one frame before. [On the other replay] the ball will go another frame and hit the strap on the arm guard. That is the difference.

“No issue at all with the review, he [Latham] had to go upstairs, and a very good decision by Chris Gaffaney because it all happened so quick. In real time it’s hard to get right.”

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