Channel Nine Admits Spidercam Wire Caused Steve Smith To Drop A Catch

Let’s not make any bones about it – the Australian Test Team has been sloppy in the field over the past couple of tests. The series against India, as enthralling as it has been, has been dotted with dropped catches and missed run outs that have varied from the whisker-close to the completely farcical. They certainly don’t need any external distractions exacerbating this problem at the moment.

And yet, during yesterday’s third day of play of the fourth test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, that’s exactly what seems to have happen. When Lokesh Rahul nicked a looping top edge behind the keeper off the bowling of Shane Watson, what seemed like a regulation catch for captain Steve Smith turned into another page in the bad fielding books when he appeared to misjudge the catch and missed it completely.
But as Steve Smith lay on the ground – in the middle of the giant pink Commonwealth Bank logo painted on the ground – Smith pointed skywards and very clearly said the words “Fucking wire” before standing and hurling the ball back down the pitch.
The wire he was referring to belongs to Channel Nine‘s highly valued Spidercam – a “floating” camera that hovers above the playing field, controlled by a multi-wire pulley system that allows it to virtually fly over the entire ground.
Though some have called Smith’s reaction and blaming of the wire a weak excuse for a fundamental error, Channel Nine and Cricket Australia have since admitted that the wire from the camera did distract Smith, causing the missed catch. Australian Coach Darren Lehmann, in his typically dry manner, remarked “I’m sure CA and Channel Nine will work that out and get it better.”
If the wire truly did distract Smith, or if it played the part of scapegoat – his approach to the catch seemed somewhat haphazard, and his footwork was significantly short of impeccable – is something of a moot point at this stage. The miss allowed Rahul to continue on and compile a measured innings of 110. The game continues on regardless.
But, as with anything, you can make up your own mind about it.

Photo: Cameron Spencer via Getty Images.

via SMH.

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