Starc claimed the chance at fine leg when Ben Duckett toe-ended an upper cut shortly before the close of play but replays showed the ball being scraped along the turf as Starc slid around the boundary. Australia were bemused when the catch was overturned and Pat Cummins had a conversation with the on-field umpires.

"Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has 'complete control over the ball and his/her movement'," MCC posted on Twitter. "The ball cannot touch the ground before then. In this particular incident, Mitchell Starc, was still sliding as the ball rubbed the ground, therefore he was not in control of his movement."

Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath had termed the decision "ridiculous" on the BBC.

"I'm sorry, that is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen," he said. "He's got that under control, the ball is under control. That is a disgrace. I'm sorry, that is a disgrace. I've seen everything now. I cannot believe that. That is ridiculous. If that ball is not under control, that is ridiculous."

There have been a number of occasions of catches taken close to the ground in Tests over the last few weeks, beginning with Cameron Green's stunning grab to remove Shubman Gill in the World Test Championship final, where it was ruled out much to the anger of Gill.

Earlier in this Test, Steven Smith held a catch to remove Joe Root in the first innings which was checked by the third umpire while at Edgbaston a short leg catch by Marnus Labuschagne was ruled not out in similar circumstances to Starc's.

England's batting coach Marcus Trescothick conceded that even among players and support staff there can be confusion over the rules.

"I first thought it looked good, when you see it from a distance," he said. "Obviously then the ball slides along the ground. But at the time I don't really think we understood the rules. I don't think I understand the rules properly to really tell you whether it's right or wrong.

"But from my understanding and what's been said by umpires and stuff, you've got to have control of the ball and your body until the motion is finished. And obviously, that would be the challenging part to the catch."

Had the catch been clean England would have been 113 for 5 and all-but gone in the contest. Ahough needing 257 with six wickets in hand is a tall order, the presence of Ben Stokes at the crease alongside Duckett gives them belief that another stunning chase is possible.

"That's where we're sitting at the minute, thinking there's still an opportunity to win the game," Trescothick said. "We've got key men still to bat and a couple of key men at the crease. The team is a positive team that sees the opportunity to do things that are special and slightly different. No doubt they'll be coming in tomorrow trying to do their best to make sure that happens."