The incident occurred when England opener Duckett mistimed a delivery from Cameron Green to the fine leg. Starc, positioned at fine leg, managed to catch the ball just above the ground but couldn't maintain control of it while sliding on the turf.
Upon reviewing the replays, third umpire Marais Erasmus determined that Starc was not in control of his own movement when the ball was brushed against the turf. As a result, Duckett was ruled not out.
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, McGrath shared his unfiltered opinion on the controversy. He vehemently disagreed with the decision, stating, "I'm sorry, that is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. He has got that ball under control. That ball is under control. I'm sorry, I've seen everything this game has to offer. If that is not out, then every other catch that's ever been taken should be not out. That is a disgrace."
I'm sorry that’s the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever seen. That ball is under control,"- McGrath said on BBC’s Test Match Special.— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) July 2, 2023
McGrath expressed his disbelief at the decision, emphasizing that Starc had the ball well under control in two hands. He further stated, "I've seen everything now. I cannot believe that. If that ball is not under control, that is ridiculous. He's got that well under control in two hands. I have seen everything now."
The ruling in question is based on Law 33.3 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket, which states that "the act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder's person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement."
Later, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of Lord's and cricket's law-makers, re-affirmed this interpretation, "Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has 'complete control over the ball and his/her movement'.
"The ball cannot touch the ground before then. In this particular incident, Mitchell Starc was still sliding as the ball rubbed the ground, therefore he was not in control of his movement," it added.
After the ruling late on day four at Lord's, Duckett (50 not out) went on to survive the evening alongside skipper Ben Stokes (29 not out), though England sit precariously on 114/4 and need a further 257 runs to win the Lord's Test and draw level in the five-match series between the arch-rivals.
