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Hauritz's dismissal sparks controversy
The 2nd Test between Australia and SA had a controversial umpiring decision of home team's Nathan Hauritz being given out on apparently without any appeal.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: December 28, 2008 12:41 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Melbourne:
It happened when Graeme Smith motioned for the field umpires to refer a decision to third umpire when Australian tailender Nathan Hauritz edged to the South Africa captain at first slip in the first session of day two.
Smith did not appeal. Instead, unsure whether the low edge had carried to him on the full or not, Smith motioned he did not know. He then signalled to umpire Billy Doctrove at square leg to call for television umpire to officiate, though under cricket's laws, players are not permitted to do so.
Doctrove and colleague Aleem Dar of Pakistan convened before Dar referred the decision to the third umpire Bruce Oxenford who eventually ruled Smith had got his fingers underneath the ball and taken a catch.
After Hauritz was given out, boos resounded around the MCG as the catch was repeated on the large electronic screens. But, according to 'Herald Sun', several Australian Test greats had no qualms with the verdict and 65 per cent of fans who responded to a Channel Nine poll believed the decision was correct.
But the rules of the game state no batsman shall be given out by an umpire unless there is an appeal from the fielding side.
A controversial umpiring decision became the talking point of the second Test between Australia and South Africa when the home team's Nathan Hauritz was given out on the second day apparently without any appeal from the fielding side.It happened when Graeme Smith motioned for the field umpires to refer a decision to third umpire when Australian tailender Nathan Hauritz edged to the South Africa captain at first slip in the first session of day two.
Smith did not appeal. Instead, unsure whether the low edge had carried to him on the full or not, Smith motioned he did not know. He then signalled to umpire Billy Doctrove at square leg to call for television umpire to officiate, though under cricket's laws, players are not permitted to do so.
Doctrove and colleague Aleem Dar of Pakistan convened before Dar referred the decision to the third umpire Bruce Oxenford who eventually ruled Smith had got his fingers underneath the ball and taken a catch.
After Hauritz was given out, boos resounded around the MCG as the catch was repeated on the large electronic screens. But, according to 'Herald Sun', several Australian Test greats had no qualms with the verdict and 65 per cent of fans who responded to a Channel Nine poll believed the decision was correct.
But the rules of the game state no batsman shall be given out by an umpire unless there is an appeal from the fielding side.
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket South Africa Cricket Team
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