5 weird dismissals against India

To err is human. A wrong decision can change the course of the match; Being the men in the middle is difficult. If you get a decision right, people go ‘Well, that’s his job’ on the other hand you get one wrong you’re heavily criticized. As an umpire one has to have high levels of concentration at all times. Some decisions however, leave you speechless. Here is a look of few some of the weirdest umpiring decisions given against Indian Team.

5. Australia vs India at Sydney, Jan 2-6 2008

R Dravid (b) A Symonds (c) A Gilchrist2007 Sydney Test – Controversial Decisions

India were struggling at 115/3 chasing a target of 333 on the 5th day of the test match. Tendulkar and Laxman were already dismissed and pressure was loaded heavy upon Dravid’s shoulders to save the match. Symonds was brought into attack. He bowled a delivery pitched at 4th stick and it nipped away after pitching. Dravid tried to defend but kept his bat behind the pad. After catching the ball, Gilchrist spontaneously appealed for a caught behind and was soon joined by the bowler an the team mates. Umpire declared him out and he had to return to pavilion with disappointment. India went on to lose the match by 122 runs.

Gilchrist felt guilty and admitted his mistake in his autobiography “True Colors”

The Dravid decision was a howler, but to this day I would not have acted any differently. It happened very quickly; there was a noise, the tension was high, I thought he’d hit it. We all went up.

4. England vs India at Bristal, Aug 24 2007

S Tendulkar (c) M Prior (b) A Flintoff

The ball was found to have hit the arm pad on its way to the keeper.

The crowd was happy as they thought there money spent on the ticket was worth as Sachin was in good form. He was playing the cover drives and straight drives wery well. There were heavy cheers for both the side. When Sachin was on 99, Flintoff bowled a bouncer directed towards his head. Sachin didn’t tug, instead he lifted his hands letting the ball to go. Prior caught the ball and appealed. Doctrov declared him out. The match eventually had a close finish. India won the match just by 9 runs depsite scoring 329.

3. England vs India, at Edgbaston, Aug 10-13 2011

R Dravid (c) M Prior (b) Anderson

India were down 0-2 in the series. Trailing by 586 runs, India began its second innings. Just when it seemed that things could not get worse, Anderson bowled a delivery outside off. There was a definite sound as the ball passed the bat. Prior, completing the catch, appealed and the umpire declared Dravid out. The fault partly goes to Dravid too. UDRS was available in the tour. But he did go for a review of the umpire’s decision. Hot Spot suggested that the sound had actually came from the shoe lace hitting the bat and ball never took a knick. India lost the match by an innings and 242 runs.

2. West Indies vs India, Bridgetown, June 28-30, July 1-2 2011MS Dhoni (c) Chanderpaul (b) Edwards

A wrong replay was shown to 3rd Umpire.

India were struggling at 167/5. Dhoni had just come in. As Edwards bowled, the ball stopped a bit before coming to him. Reacting late, Dhoni could only lob it up in the air and as Chanderpaul took a dolly. As he begun to walk, Dhoni was stopped by the on-field umpire so he could check up with the third umpire on whether the bowler had overstepped or not. But technicians who operate showed a wrong replay to third umpire Gregory Brathwaite. Having found it legal, he gave Dhoni out. The match ended in a draw as rain played spoil sport.

However, ICC later admitted it as a honest unintentional mistake and came up with a report later

1. Australia vs India, at Adelaide,Dec 10-14 1999

S Tendulkar lbw G. McGrath

Tendulkar was giving LBW to a bouncer

There are many cases of leg before wicket dismissals on a full toss delivery or half volley. But there is only one instance of umpire giving a batsman leg before wicket for a ball that was pitched way too short. That instance is Tendulkar’s wicket at Adelaide in 1999. McGrath bowled a short of length delivery directed towards the body. Tendulkar tugged for the bouncer. Due to the lack of bounce in the pitch, the ball didn’t bounce much and hit Tendulkar’s helmet. McGrath appelead for an LBW and Harper declared him out. Australia won the match by 285 runs.