Maligned ICC cricket umpire Joel Wilson eviscerated after two decisions overturned in two balls

Joel Wilson has been made to endure an ICC umpire’s worst nightmare after having two decisions overturned in two balls by the DRS.

Wilson deemed Aussie allrounder Mitch Marsh out lbw early in his innings after he was hit on the pad by Pakistan fast bowler Hassan Ali.

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After consulting with his batting partner Marnus Labuschagne, Marsh sent the decision upstairs to third umpire Richard Illingworth, who found a clear hotspot on the bat from a tiny edge.

Illingworth told Wilson to overturn his decision and Marsh survived — though, by his reaction, appeared to be caught unaware that he had hit the ball, instead having reviewed the decision in the hope that the ball wasn’t going on to hit the stumps.

Decision reversals have become part and parcel of the game; Wilson suffered no great indignity to have conceded one.

But he was made to do it again the very next ball when he gave Marsh out, caught behind.

This time knowing he didn’t hit it, Marsh sent it straight upstairs and was proven correct when RTS replays showed the ball clipping both his front and back pads, but no part of his bat, before it carried through to Mohammad Rizwan’s gloves.

Joel Wilson was made to overturn his decision not once but twice. Credit: Channel 7

Once again, Illingworth had to give Wilson the bad news, and he changed his decision for a second time in two balls.

“Poor Joel Wilson,” SEN’s Bharat Sundaresun said.

“At least has a sense of humour. Is able to laugh it off even if the players in the middle are getting stuck into him after having played fastest finger first with the DRS in the previous over.”

It’s not the first time Australia have been at odds with the decisions of Wilson, who infamously denied Nathan Lyon the wicket of Ben Stokes during the epic 2019 Ashes Test at Headingly.

Australia were left helpless with no reviews remaining to use when Wilson gave Stokes not out for an lbw shout that replays confirmed should have been given.

Stokes went on to single-handedly drag the English over the line with one of the greatest hundreds the game has ever seen, in one of the most thrilling Test matches in history.

The win also proved crucial in the overall series, which was eventually tied, 2-2.

Marsh survived two reviews. Credit: Channel 7

After the two Marsh decisions, cricket statistician Mazher Arshad pointed out that, “Since the start of 2022, 37 per cent of Joel Wilson’s decisions have been reversed on DRS in Tests — the highest for any umpire. (Minimum: 20 reviews).”

Social media blew up after Wilson’s latest blunders.

“How is there no better umpire to stand in the middle on Boxing Day than Joel Wilson?” one fan said.

Another added: “How he continues to officiate at the top levels beggars belief. He is atrocious.”

Fans erupted on social media. Credit: X