The following post has been cross posted on the Pavilion Seat blog with minor changes.
What do you think was the most significant umpiring error made during the first WI-India test match??
- Declaring Chris Gayle not out?
- Declaring Shivnarine Chanderpaul out caught?
- The Dhoni out/not out fiasco?
- The Bradshaw decision?
Me. None of the above. I think it was
5. Fining Sehwag for over appealing and “celebrating a dismissal before the decision has been given”.
Imagine a scenario, wherein Lara gets off without even a reprimand for a behaviour which our “mann” Holding termed “insolent“, and in the same Sehwag gets fined for over-appealing. You got to be kidding me. Was Jeff Crowe (match referee) drunk when Lara unfolded what I think has been the worst example of on-field behaviour in recent times?? It is like letting a murderer go away and punishing someone for walking on a lawn!!!
It is a common notion that Asians are not given a fair deal when such rules are interpreted. And this is not the first time that this has happened to an Indian. Remember the Mike Denness fiasco, when almost half the Indian side (including Sehwag, Bhajji, Ganguly) was hauled up for over-appealing, while the South Africans got away with worse (Andre Nel clearly abusing Ganguly). I think it was Ganguly (supported by a Dalmiya ruled BCCI) who stood up and complained. The order of world cricket was on the brink of a split when ICC and BCCI backed off and tensions were eased. Alas, such an action may not be repeated anymore.
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