OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 10.35AM.
SOUTH African cricket skipper Hansie Cronje is to submit a full report on the standard of umpiring in the recent Test series in England, which South Africa lost 2-1, to the United Cricket Board.
UCB President Ali Bacher has asked Cronje to submit a written report to the UCB “on what has been perceived a very bad umpiring series”.
The umpiring was indeed of a poor standard, and while Cronje is too much of a diplomat to point the finger after the defeat, the feeling is that something must be done to rectify the situation.
Sunday evening’s decision to halt play was a particularly nasty error, as the South Africans may have had a realistic chance to take the match. The English bowlers were tired, and the South Africans were understandably keen to finish the match.
However, when the batsmen asked the umpires if they could play on for the allocated half-hour the answer was that both captains had to agree to the extension, and that the day’s play therefore should be stopped. A decision which makes no sense at all, and is completely incorrect as either skipper has the right to request an extension.