Cricket: Yadav courts controversy with quick catch

Indian paceman Umesh Yadav has courted controversy after dismissing English batsman Joe Root with a catch that was barely in his hands for more than a few seconds.

Root had made a work-horse 124 runs in the First Test when he sent a full delivery rocketing straight back to the speedster, who upon his follow through, appeared to grapple the return.

However, as the seamer continued his run down the wicket he seemingly lost his brief hold, fumbling with it high above his head before it settled on the grass next to umpire Kumar Dharmasena.

Despite the commentators calling a dropped catch, India proceeded to celebrate and Dharmasena referred the incident to video referee Rob Tucker.

And after some deliberation, an aggrieved Root was given his marching orders with the officials believing Yadav had lost the ball in celebration of the catch – a small reprieve for the struggling home nation.

Former England captain Mike Atherton echoed the third umpire’s decision.

"It looked to me like Yadav caught it but in the process of throwing the ball up he lost control of the ball,” Atherton said.

“But he did have it in his hands.

“That's why the on-field umpires gave it out initially and why Rob Tucker has decided to stay with that call."