Former England cricketers Michael Atherton and Mark Butcher made a cheeky joke at the on-field umpires after England captain Ben Stokes requested a review with only one second remaining on the timer on Day 4 of the second Test against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The event replicated a contentious occasion from Day 3, when Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was permitted to challenge an umpire’s judgement despite the fact that the DRS timer appeared to have expired. The ruling left Stokes angry since the on-field umpires did not object and allowed the third umpire to do the review.

On Day 4, during India’s second innings’ 23rd over, Brydon Carse and England filed an appeal when Shubman Gill missed a flick on the leg-stump line.

Stokes, originally sceptical, was persuaded by bowler and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to dispute the on-field not out verdict. The lengthy conversation among the England players devoured the majority of the review period, but Stokes, conscious of the countdown, signalled for the DRS just in time.

Atherton mentioned that Stokes was able to beat the clock, but Butcher said it didn’t matter, especially after the events of Day 3, when Jaiswal was allowed to take a review after the timer had run out.

“Ran down the clock, and he was just okay to call for the review, just in time,” Atherton said during commentary.

“I’m not sure that means anything, do you?” Mark Butcher replied.

“Do you reckon he had another couple of seconds left?” Atherton conceded with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Stokes’ instinct was correct as the Ultra Edge confirmed a faint inside edge as England lost the review. Despite their push for quick breakthroughs, India continued to build their lead, which extended beyond 350 runs on a tense Day 4 at Edgbaston.

At lunch on Day 4, India were 177 for 3, with Gill (24*) and Rishabh Pant (41*) unbeaten at the crease. KL Rahul (55) and Karun Nair (26) were the couple of wickets to fall in the morning session while Jaiswal lost his wicket at the latter part of Day 3 after scoring 28.