Former skipper Ricky Ponting slammed the ‘pathetic officiating’ after Australia opener David Warner was given a reprieve on day two of the first Ashes Test when he was bowled by Ben Stokes off a no-ball.

Stokes, playing his first competitive match since The Hundred in July, bowled Warner for 17 but the wicket was canceled by a no-ball review that showed the all-rounder had over-stepped the mark. In fact, Stokes had in fact bowled a no-ball in every delivery leading up to the Warner dismissal, but not a single one was called.

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“If someone upstairs is supposed to be checking these and they haven’t decided that any of those are a no-ball, that’s just pathetic officiating as far as I’m concerned,” Ricky Ponting said. while speaking on Channel 7.

“It led to what we saw late in the over. If he’d have been called for a no-ball the first one he bowled, then of course he’s going to drag his foot back. I’m not sure what’s happened. I’m keen to hear why it hasn’t happened earlier,” Ponting added.

Warner twice edged through the slips and had a reprieve on a no-ball before settling down and sharing an unbeaten 100-plus second-wicket partnership with Marnus Labuschagne. Both Labuschagne and Warner have scored half-centuries to lift Australia to 128 for 1 on Day 2 of the Gabba Test in the Ashes series.

Labuschagne joined Warner with the total at 10-1 and reached a half-century from 71 balls when he cut Chris Woakes to the boundary, his fifth of the innings. The Australians are in a strong position after dismissing England for 147 in two sessions before the rain and bad light ended play on Wednesday.