The MCC have issued a clarification following a contentious moment during the final Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, with Steve Smith given ‘not out’ following a run out appeal.

Smith had seemingly accepted his fate when a sharp throw from sub-fielder George Ealham looked to have caught him short, but TV umpire Nitin Menon took his time over the decision and eventually reprieved the Australia batter.

There were several points of debate. Jonny Bairstow had made contact with the left-most stump before the ball entered his gloves. Menon had to decide whether he had broken the wicket before he collected the ball, whether he did so again after collecting the ball, and whether he broke the wicket while holding the ball before Smith had made his ground.

There was some movement of the bail before Smith made his ground, and debate was sparked over whether this counted as the wicket being broken. An MCC clarification stated that the bail is only completely removed “at the moment that both ends of it leave their grooves”. A close inspection of the replays suggested that the right-most point of both bails was still in place in the last frame before Smith made his ground. (WISDEN)