If ever a decision has deserved a whinge it was that one, though. I don't think umpires generally impact a game that much, there's the odd crap decision, something you expect from human error. Yesterdays onfield, for example, sometimes shit happens. McCullems in Brisbane was poor but didn't really effect the match. Khawaja's in Perth he got extremely lucky and that certainly cost NZ runs, but they burnt reviews on frivolous appeals before that.
But to have a system in place for eliminating a howler such as that, using it, seeing pretty clear evidence from two angles of hitting the bat, seeing the ball move off the bat on the front on view, and not give it, is ridiculous. It was an awful decision that, in the context of the match (low scoring, would've had Australia 9/120 odd, still 80 behind) has clearly, clearly impacted on the result. Yep, McCullem afterward let it drift a bit with the spinners, which was poor (partciularly after they eventually got Lyon). Nevill batted really well. Whole game changes there though, Starc wasn't gonna last long (he couldn't do anything against the quicks, and was limping up and down the crease).
It's a really poor decision that simply should not have happened, and has changed the course of the match. Which as a test cricket fan is a shame.
I think we're firm favourites. Kiwi's bat reasonably deep with Bracewell and Craig handy, and Southee able to swing the blade. But they need a very good first session and Australia should be good enough to chase anything 200 or so pretty comfortably (should be).
