Sydney: Poor umpiring decisions on Day one of the Sydney Test spoiled India’s first day efforts with as many as 4 legitimate decisions going against the visitors. Steve Bucknor and Marc Benson, the two field umpires were the main culprits as far as India was concerned but their misery was compounded when the third umpire Bruce Oxenford too joined his errant colleagues.Indian bowlers had Australia reeling at 134-6, but thanks to Bucknor and Benson, the hosts took the reprieve with both hands and cantered on to a 350 plus score at the end of day’s play.The dangerous Andrew Symonds was let off thrice by the umpires; he went on to resurrect Australian first innings and give them a solid first innings score which didn’t look possible at one point of time. The first time when he got away was when he was on 30, umpire Steve Bucknor turned down an appeal for caught behind by MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma who looked shocked at the decision and could well find himself in the dock for showing disapproval with umpire’s decision. Australia was then at 193-6.The second time, Symonds was on 48 when Dhoni stumped him off Anil Kumble’s delivery. Bucnor referred it to the third umpire. TV replays clearly showed that Symond’s feet were in the air when the bails were removed and there was just a shadow of it falling on the crease. Third umpire Oxenford, took time to decide but then the Aussie gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman.The third time, Symonds was on 106 when he was trapped leg before, the ball hitting middle and leg stump but Benson decided otherwise.Earlier, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting edged one to MS Dhoni when on 17 off a Sourav Ganguly delivery. Mark Benson didn’t think so. However when Ponting was batting on 55 he was adjudged leg before by Benson though there was a thick inside edge, the ball deflecting off his pad. The Ausie skipper couldn’t believe the decision and even stood his ground for a few moments.No doubt, the Indian team will be thinking that the ghosts of umpiring from its 2004 tour Down Under were returning with full vengeance.Sachin Tendulkar suffered from a Steve Bucknor’s blooper on the last tour in 2004 when the Jamaican gave him a leg before decision to Jason Gillespie in the first Test in Brisbane. The ball was going down leg side by miles but the shocked master blaster had to return to the dressing room without opening his account. That rattled the maestro to the extent that he had a mid series dry patch till he came back strongly in the last Test match on the same ground in Sydney.The skipper of the Indian team at that time-Sourav Ganguly in his captain’s report had given a big “zero” to Bucknor after the first Test match. It will not be surprising that the Jamacian will get the same rating from skipper Anil Kumble at the end of the Sydney Test.Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Worng umpiring hurts India
Sydney: Poor umpiring decisions on Day one of the Sydney Test spoiled India’s first day efforts with as many as 4 legitimate decisions going against the visitors. Steve Bucknor and Marc Benson, the two field umpires were the main culprits as far as India was concerned but their misery was compounded when the third umpire Bruce Oxenford too joined his errant colleagues.Indian bowlers had Australia reeling at 134-6, but thanks to Bucknor and Benson, the hosts took the reprieve with both hands and cantered on to a 350 plus score at the end of day’s play.The dangerous Andrew Symonds was let off thrice by the umpires; he went on to resurrect Australian first innings and give them a solid first innings score which didn’t look possible at one point of time. The first time when he got away was when he was on 30, umpire Steve Bucknor turned down an appeal for caught behind by MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma who looked shocked at the decision and could well find himself in the dock for showing disapproval with umpire’s decision. Australia was then at 193-6.The second time, Symonds was on 48 when Dhoni stumped him off Anil Kumble’s delivery. Bucnor referred it to the third umpire. TV replays clearly showed that Symond’s feet were in the air when the bails were removed and there was just a shadow of it falling on the crease. Third umpire Oxenford, took time to decide but then the Aussie gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman.The third time, Symonds was on 106 when he was trapped leg before, the ball hitting middle and leg stump but Benson decided otherwise.Earlier, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting edged one to MS Dhoni when on 17 off a Sourav Ganguly delivery. Mark Benson didn’t think so. However when Ponting was batting on 55 he was adjudged leg before by Benson though there was a thick inside edge, the ball deflecting off his pad. The Ausie skipper couldn’t believe the decision and even stood his ground for a few moments.No doubt, the Indian team will be thinking that the ghosts of umpiring from its 2004 tour Down Under were returning with full vengeance.Sachin Tendulkar suffered from a Steve Bucknor’s blooper on the last tour in 2004 when the Jamaican gave him a leg before decision to Jason Gillespie in the first Test in Brisbane. The ball was going down leg side by miles but the shocked master blaster had to return to the dressing room without opening his account. That rattled the maestro to the extent that he had a mid series dry patch till he came back strongly in the last Test match on the same ground in Sydney.The skipper of the Indian team at that time-Sourav Ganguly in his captain’s report had given a big “zero” to Bucknor after the first Test match. It will not be surprising that the Jamacian will get the same rating from skipper Anil Kumble at the end of the Sydney Test.