Dagless
4 Jan 2008, 06:49
Copied from the Herald Sun...
ANGRY Indian cricket board officials last night demanded action be taken against umpire Steve Bucknor after a series of poor decisions in the second Test at the SCG.
Indian cricket board vice-president Rajiv Shukla took the unprecedented step of ordering team management to lodge an official complaint with match referee Mike Procter.
West Indian Bucknor, 61, was responsible on day one for failing to give Andrew Symonds out caught behind on 30, a decision even the batsman later admitted was wrong.
The Queenslander capitalised on the error by storming to a match-turning 162 not out in Australia's imposing first innings of 463.
India had begun to turn the tide by stumps on day two last night after master batsman V. V. S. Laxman plundered his third ton in as many SCG Tests.
It will resume today on 3-216, but still faces a major fight to stop Australia from claiming a record-equalling 16th-straight Test win.
As the tourists began their fightback, Mumbai-based Shukla said the performance of Bucknor, the game's most experienced umpire with 120 Tests to his credit, was simply not good enough.
"We have asked our team management to lodge a protest to the ICC match referee against the wrong umpiring decisions made by Steve Bucknor," Shukla said.
"The wrong decisions made by Bucknor have been commented upon by all cricketers and analysts alike.
"I am sure the International Cricket Council will be monitoring the matter in Dubai and take appropriate actions."
Symonds had also been fortunate to not have been given out on 48 when he looked to have been stumped.
Bucknor, and ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, in Sydney yesterday, refused to comment when approached by the Herald Sun.
But ICC playing committee chairman Sunil Gavaskar said all umpiring matters would be discussed at a May meeting.
Bucknor was in the spotlight again yesterday when he failed to refer a stumping decision to third umpire Bruce Oxenford when Symonds was on 148.
Television replays indicated Symonds was out as his heel was raised and not behind the crease.
Bucknor's decision to adjudge Brett Lee lbw (59) to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was also controversial, with replays indicating the ball probably would have missed off-stump.
While the BCCI wants action taken against Bucknor, his English counterpart, Mark Benson, has also been responsible for two terrible calls.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting received both the good and the bad on day one.
Ponting was given a reprieve in 17 when Benson missed his tickle down leg-side into the gloves of wicketkeeper M. S. Dhoni.
But he couldn't believe his luck soon after the umpire failed to see his thick inside edge on to his pads, and he was adjudged lbw to long-time nemesis Harbhajan.
While Indian officials contemplated their next move, Australia didn't do itself any favours in the field.
Adam Gilchrist experienced arguably the worst day of his career, dropping three catches, including Laxman on 45 and 77.
He also missed a regulation chance off Rahul Dravid when the struggling opener was on 18.
Fast bowler Brett Lee last night backed the record-breaking Gilchrist to rebound from an uncharacteristically sloppy day in the field.
"That happens. Batsmen play bad shots, bowlers bowl no-balls, sometimes keepers don't always take the catches," Lee said.
"But rather than reflect on the negatives, you have to look at the positives that Adam Gilchrist brings to the team.
"I am sure he will be forgetting about what happened and just come back tomorrow morning and take some speccies."
Australia's frustration was compounded when Mitchell Johnson had Dravid caught off a no-ball on 15.
ANGRY Indian cricket board officials last night demanded action be taken against umpire Steve Bucknor after a series of poor decisions in the second Test at the SCG.
Indian cricket board vice-president Rajiv Shukla took the unprecedented step of ordering team management to lodge an official complaint with match referee Mike Procter.
West Indian Bucknor, 61, was responsible on day one for failing to give Andrew Symonds out caught behind on 30, a decision even the batsman later admitted was wrong.
The Queenslander capitalised on the error by storming to a match-turning 162 not out in Australia's imposing first innings of 463.
India had begun to turn the tide by stumps on day two last night after master batsman V. V. S. Laxman plundered his third ton in as many SCG Tests.
It will resume today on 3-216, but still faces a major fight to stop Australia from claiming a record-equalling 16th-straight Test win.
As the tourists began their fightback, Mumbai-based Shukla said the performance of Bucknor, the game's most experienced umpire with 120 Tests to his credit, was simply not good enough.
"We have asked our team management to lodge a protest to the ICC match referee against the wrong umpiring decisions made by Steve Bucknor," Shukla said.
"The wrong decisions made by Bucknor have been commented upon by all cricketers and analysts alike.
"I am sure the International Cricket Council will be monitoring the matter in Dubai and take appropriate actions."
Symonds had also been fortunate to not have been given out on 48 when he looked to have been stumped.
Bucknor, and ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, in Sydney yesterday, refused to comment when approached by the Herald Sun.
But ICC playing committee chairman Sunil Gavaskar said all umpiring matters would be discussed at a May meeting.
Bucknor was in the spotlight again yesterday when he failed to refer a stumping decision to third umpire Bruce Oxenford when Symonds was on 148.
Television replays indicated Symonds was out as his heel was raised and not behind the crease.
Bucknor's decision to adjudge Brett Lee lbw (59) to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was also controversial, with replays indicating the ball probably would have missed off-stump.
While the BCCI wants action taken against Bucknor, his English counterpart, Mark Benson, has also been responsible for two terrible calls.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting received both the good and the bad on day one.
Ponting was given a reprieve in 17 when Benson missed his tickle down leg-side into the gloves of wicketkeeper M. S. Dhoni.
But he couldn't believe his luck soon after the umpire failed to see his thick inside edge on to his pads, and he was adjudged lbw to long-time nemesis Harbhajan.
While Indian officials contemplated their next move, Australia didn't do itself any favours in the field.
Adam Gilchrist experienced arguably the worst day of his career, dropping three catches, including Laxman on 45 and 77.
He also missed a regulation chance off Rahul Dravid when the struggling opener was on 18.
Fast bowler Brett Lee last night backed the record-breaking Gilchrist to rebound from an uncharacteristically sloppy day in the field.
"That happens. Batsmen play bad shots, bowlers bowl no-balls, sometimes keepers don't always take the catches," Lee said.
"But rather than reflect on the negatives, you have to look at the positives that Adam Gilchrist brings to the team.
"I am sure he will be forgetting about what happened and just come back tomorrow morning and take some speccies."
Australia's frustration was compounded when Mitchell Johnson had Dravid caught off a no-ball on 15.