Speed sorry for Umpire errors/game farce.

[leeami]

He should be aplogising to the teams, particularly Australia. By reading the below article, as they say '20 overs constitutes a game' particulary when weather and conditions come into effect. How the f*** did the umpires, match referee Jeff Crowe, and the reserve umpires not know this?
No apolgy to the teams mentioned though.

Below is just a part of the article. Full article Here

International cricket chief Malcolm Speed has insisted the ICC will not 'overreact' to the umpiring errors which resulted in an absurd ending to the World Cup final.

Millions of viewers around the world watched in confusion as the Australians celebrated in the gloom thinking they had won the World Cup for the third time in succession, only to be called back out in near darkness to play a further three overs.

The confusion followed a total mis-interpretation of the playing conditions from match referee Jeff Crowe, on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor and reserve umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Bowden - none of whom realised that it took only 20 overs a side to constitute a full match when weather intervenes.

Crowe, the head of the umpires, accepted full responsibility for the errors, admitting their embarrassment and the mistakes which reflected badly on cricket world-wide.

"I saw Jeff Crowe this morning, he came up to me and said 'I am very sorry about yesterday (Saturday), we are all very sorry about yesterday, it shouldn't have happened'."

Speed conceded the damaging pictures broadcast around the world would not have helped the reputation of a sport which has only just recovered from the stigma of match-fixing and is currently involved with a murder inquiry after Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died in suspicious circumstances during the tournament.

"It's not a good image for the game, we would have far preferred if news highlights had been some of the great cricket played and some of the great decisions made by the umpires," admitted Speed, who was hit on the back of the head by an ICC backdrop as the press conference opened.

"It was unfortunate, a very sad way to finish the World Cup. I hope we can recall the great day's cricket we had before this very unfortunate ending.

 

[leeami]

Another article from Sportal.au
http://www.sportal.com.au/cricket.asp?i=news&id=97952

Crowe tries to 'explain' his way out of it. Have they apologised to the teams I wonder.

Crowe blames himself

World Cup match referee Jeff Crowe has taken responsibility for the 'human error' and confusion which meant the final was won 'twice' by Australia and ended in farcical scenes at Kensington Oval.

Australia celebrated its victory, and a record third successive Cup crown, only to be told by umpires Steve Bucknor and Aleem Dar that it had to head back on the field to bowl three more overs in near darkness against a Sri Lanka team which had accepted there was no longer any way it could win.

That was done, with captains Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene agreeing to bowl only slow bowlers and pat back the ball, before Australia was declared winners all over again - by 53 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The teams agreed to start playing again only after the umpires had told them, in error, that if they did not they would have to come back on the reserve day to complete a match already reduced to 38-overs-per-side because of rain.

After a presentation ceremony in which a full-house crowd booed match and International Cricket Council officials for their perceived part in such an unsatisfactory ending, Crowe admitted he was the man to blame.

"In all hindsight, I should have known the rules and said the game had been called off," he acknowledged.

Crowe was later informed television audiences around the world were told by broadcasters that Australia had won the Cup - yet minutes later witnessed both teams going back out to play again.

"The scoreboard had put it up, and I guess the problem was we hadn't had contact with them; they just assumed too that was the result - and put it up," explained the referee.
"For me the real confusion has come from the fact we were talking about resuming the game tomorrow - which was technically and very wrong."
"It's a human error, I guess. There is a lot of talking going on the audio system on the field and our room."

The 'talking' could have come from any one of Crowe, the two on-field umpires or third official Rudi Koertzen.
"Sometimes you get a stronger voice which says 'I know the rules - this is how it works'," Crowe revealed.
"Then you get a bit of confusion in the group itself, and no-one wants to overrule the other."
"The match referee should have known and said 'that's not right - the game should be completed now'."

Crowe conceded two separate mistakes were made - the number of overs still to be bowled should have been reduced after the interruption in play - but the most significant was an apparent ignorance of a basic playing condition which stipulates that if 20 overs have been completed in the second innings a Duckworth-Lewis result is achieved, and therefore the reserved day is not required.

"The real confusion occurred when it was suggested that the match could continue tomorrow," he said.
"I guess that is what put the teams in confusion, the rest of you and everybody else in the ground - as well as those watching on television.
"This was never a consideration, and it was a mistake on our behalf as the playing control team.
"I guess we will certainly learn from today's confusion and the mistakes we made."
"It is no excuse, but we were all confused ourselves as to what the right direction was."

 

[RoosterLad]

Sack them all.

 

[Grimreepah]

'20 overs constitutes a game'http://www.sportal.com.au/cricket.asp?i=news&id=97960

I think the average cricket fan would be aware of this rule. How can 4 umpires and a match referee all forget? Surely the fact that they were playing in darkness was a bit of a giveaway that something wasn't quite right.

 

[CF]

"In all hindsight, I should have known the rules and said the game had been called off," he acknowledged.

ya think???

 

[Owizee]

If there is 2 days set aside for this match then why reduce the Aussies 50 overs? They should have said Australia bats for 50 overs then Sri Lanka bat till it gets too dark or wet for them to continue, then come back the 2nd day. Once they reduced the overs they should have used D/L to calculate the overs lost due to bad light

 

[Owizee]

If Speed is so sorry he should resign

 

[Hands & Heels]

A fitting end to a farcical tournament. Fair dinkum, the ICC are running the game into the ground. Blind freddy would have seen that the tournament was too long - the final was just icing on the cake. Looked like anything but a Carribean celebration of cricket.

Enjoyed the boos that the officials got during the presentation.

Speed & the other ICC dills ought to resign...........and now.

 

[shammersting]

Speed is one of the worst administators in sporting history. He is only interested in making money and is turning this one great game into a joke I'm afraid. When the NBL was making inroads in the early 90s he got to ahead of himself and almost sent it bankrupt. Time to go Malcom....

 

[Cooldude]

Speed should also say sorry for stuffing up Cricket

 

[Betfair Pro Punter]

What they should have done in my opinion was used the extra 'reserve' day and hence they would not be problems. And if it takes 5 days to complete the match so be it. Duckworth lewis is a great method to use, but not in a World Cup Final. We want to find the worlds best 50 over side

Also in regards to west indies, there should be floodlights at the ground as a minimum for a final.

overall very badly organised tournament but there were some feel good stories of the WC

 

[King Elvis]

If there is 2 days set aside for this match then why reduce the Aussies 50 overs? They should have said Australia bats for 50 overs then Sri Lanka bat till it gets too dark or wet for them to continue, then come back the 2nd day. Once they reduced the overs they should have used D/L to calculate the overs lost due to bad light

Should've all been played on the second day - playing it over two days varies the match and weather conditions too much.