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Oz PM tweets Ashes rage

Manchester - Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd added his voice to the latest Ashes umpiring controversy on Thursday by blasting the dismissal of Usman Khawaja as "one of the worst" decisions he has ever seen.

Khawaja was given out by on-field umpire Tony Hill having made just one with Australia at 92 for two on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford.

The decision, after the batsman was adjudged to have edged Graeme Swann to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, was endorsed by third official Kumar Dharmasena despite evidence which appeared to suggest it should have instead been reversed.

"I've just sat down to watch the Test," tweeted Rudd.

"That was one of the worst cricket umpiring decisions I have ever seen."

Former Austalia leg-spinner Shane Warne was stunned by the decision, the latest in a series of controversies involving technology in the Ashes series.

"There was daylight between bat and ball - there was no Hotspot and no noise," Warne told Sky Sports.

"The only noise was when the bat hit his pad. That's a shocker -- that's an absolute shocking decision.

"You can see the bat hitting the pad, the ball goes past, no noise. There was clear evidence there as well. That is a ridiculous decision."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also took to Twitter to voice his irritation.

"And people say you should Walk .... No chance when you get decisions like that.... #Ashes," he wrote.
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