The decision left Gill and the fans in anticipation, as Kettleborough examined various aspects to reach his verdict. The crucial factors under consideration were whether Green had his fingers underneath the ball and whether he had complete control over it.

The question arises: Which of these elements contribute to a catch being deemed fair

Law 33 of the Laws of Cricket deals with catches. It states: “The striker is out Caught if a ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, touches his/her bat without having previously been in contact with any fielder, and is subsequently held by a fielder as a fair catch, as described in 33.2 and 33.3, before it touches the ground.”

Cameron Green's controversial catch of Shubman Gill

Although there is no specific delineation for the playing surface, the general consensus is that a catch can be considered valid even if the ball makes contact with the grass. The crucial factor is that the ground beneath the grass is deemed off-limits in determining the legality of a catch.

Law 33.2 states, “A catch will be fair if the ball is held in the hand or hands of a fielder, even if the hand holding the ball is touching the ground.” This is why the positioning of the fingers underneath the ball becomes significant. It is permissible for the ball to be held by Green's hand while his hand is in contact with the ground.

Law 33 further clarifies that the ball can’t touch the ground before the catch is completed, Law 33.3 says: “The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.”

Kettleborough determined that Green had full control over the ball, although his movement while diving was not fully controlled. Thus, the crucial factor in the decision was whether the ball made contact with the ground, which continues to be a subject of debate.

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