Johnson lashes no-ball non-call

THE crucial no-ball that denied Michael Beer his first Test scalp should have been called by umpire Billy Bowden rather than referred as Australia was celebrating, Mitchell Johnson said last night.

The left-arm tweaker was denied a dream start to his career when, on just his 14th delivery on the big stage, he had the most prolific batsman of the series caught, only for Bowden to stop Alastair Cook from walking off, to check the suspected no-ball for overstepping the mark. It proved an illegal delivery, and was the second English wicket overturned for a no-ball in as many Tests.

The ICC has recently allowed this new avenue for umpires to check but Johnson, who was denied Matt Prior's scalp in Melbourne, is frustrated.
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Asked if he was happy with the referral system on no-balls, Johnson replied: ''Personally, I guess, being in that situation, probably not. It can be frustrating, I guess. If the umpires know it's a no-ball I think they should call it, instead of waiting to call it.

''I think everyone's going to have different opinions on it. My opinion is, I suppose it's not a bad thing, but it can be frustrating if - I suppose you've just got to get your foot behind the line.''

Adding to the confusion was a suggestion that Beer should have been warned by Bowden for earlier deliveries that might have been no-balls. ''Looking at his footmarks, he looked like there was a few tight ones there and Shane Watson actually looked at it and thought the same thing, that he might be over because there were a few marks there,'' Johnson said.

''That's where the review system isn't so great, I don't know, or whether he was told it was close. It's pretty hard with the spinner when his foot's in the air and all that kind of stuff. We need to fix the issue. It's happened a couple of times now and it's something we need to improve in the nets.''

Johnson sympathised with his teammate: ''I know how he feels. I think he handled it very well in the end.

''It was disappointing for him that he couldn't get his first wicket, and it would have been a good wicket to get, as well, being Cook. I think the way he handled himself after that and the way he bowled was good signs for us.''

Cook was already trudging off in disappointment while an elated Australian team gathered around Beer, but the spinner's horrified expression when he realised Bowden had referred to the video official signified the deflation of the moment.

But England paceman James Anderson supported the process and said umpires should use it more.

''I think it's good cricket, because the correct decision comes out at the end of the day,'' Anderson said.

''I think they should do it more often. I don't think they use it enough.

''A no-ball is a no-ball, and you should get the correct decision when he's bowled one. We think it's a very important part of our job to stay behind the line - even more so in one-day cricket.

''We try and practise it in the nets, and I hope we can replicate that out there.''

Johnson could not explain why, even with bowling coach Troy Cooley analysing their run-ups with a measuring tape, they continue to overstep the line.

''We all try and do it, get behind the line,'' Johnson said.

''Whether you feel enclosed with the nets being there, I don't know what it is. I still bowl half a foot over in the nets but I don't know how we're going to fix that.''