Ashes 2017-18: 6 Controversies from the marquee series Down Under

#3 Mark Stoneman caught behind at Perth

Mark Stoneman was repeatedly peppered with short balls and bouncers before eventually falling to a DRS decision

Yet another questionable decision in the modern days of the DRS took place with opener Mark Stoneman. Having lost the first two Tests, England were desperate to stay alive in the third game at Perth. They won the toss, batted first and Stoneman got a crucial fifty after both Alastair Cook and Joe Root failed to deliver.

Stoneman was repeatedly attacked with short balls and bouncers from the trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – one of the bouncers from Hazlewood even broke the earpiece of his helmet with the smacked head requiring the attention of the physio – and soon arrived the inevitable.

Starc pitched one short on off stump, Stoneman fumbled and the ball, seemingly kissing his glove, flew into the gloves of Tim Paine. Umpire Marais Erasmus gave it not out, Australia referred and had their way. Unsatisfied with the third umpire Aleem Dar's decision, England queried the matter with the match referee Richie Richardson.