ENG vs IND | Twitter lambasts Dharmasena for continuing to break protocol by misusing review powers

History was set to be made one way or another at The Oval on Day 5 with the fifth Test between India and England hanging on a knife's edge and the circumstances assured the result would have its fair share of drama associated with it. When Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna began making the ball talk at the start of play, the narrative only gained further strength. Yet, once the breakthrough to flood open the contest did arrive, the focus shifted to umpire Kumar Dharmasena -- as should hardly ever be the case for an official.

Siraj was hitting the outside off channel with unnerring accuracy, his natural ability to shape the ball away leaving the Englishmen in disarray. Jamie Smith was visibly uncomfortable at the crease as he kept hanging his bat away from the body tentatively, as if teasing the outside edge, before the inevitable occurred in the 78th over when the red cherry kissed the willow and nestled into Dhruv Jurel's palms The Men in Blue wheeled away in ecstacy, the loud noise as the ball passed the bat leaving little room for doubt, but to their surprise Kumar Dharmasena remained unmoved. However, just as their frustration was turning to agony, the Sri Lankan umpire calmed down the frantic voices and walked over to his square-leg partner to check for a clean catch, consequently asking a video review for the same. Replays showed not only was Jurel;s grab legal but that he had collected the ball well above the surface, meaning there was never any doubt to begin in the first place.

While eventually the result was the correct one, Dharmasena's methods made Twitterati raise questions.   

Siraj strikes

That's right

Didn't see it

Why exactly

Need answers

He is

Coward

Just imagine

Yeah he did

Sack him