NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom // England made a stellar comeback into the third Test but any credit for the good show was dwarfed by Stuart Broad, who enjoyed a massive slice of luck at Trent Bridge yesterday.
Broad, had made 37, with England then 297 for seven in their second innings, when he edged teenage debutant spinner Ashton Agar. The ball clipped wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's gloves and then flew to Australia captain Michael Clarke at first slip.
Australia appealed for the catch but leading Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar ruled in the batsman's favour as Broad stood his ground.
The tourists had already used up both their two permitted reviews in the innings, and had to accept it.
At stumps on the third day, England were 230 for six in their second innings, a potentially decisive lead of 261 runs, with Broad (47 not out) having helped Ian Bell (95 not out) add an unbroken 108 for the seventh wicket.
"Every single batsman who plays cricket, no matter who you play for, has the right to wait for the umpire's decision," said England batsman Kevin Pietersen later.
"We play hard and we play very, very fair and every single batsman has the right to wait for the umpire."
But Australia great Shane Warne, who captained Pietersen at Hampshire, said it was just the latest in a line of crunch calls the official had got wrong.
"We all make mistakes & it's a very tough job being an umpire, but when Dar continually makes crucial mistakes why does he keep getting a gig?" Warne wrote on Twitter.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan sympathised with Australia.
"This has been a terrific game but I think a lot will be talked about that incident, which is sad."
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