OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 6.30pm.
FORMER South Africa cricketers slammed the standard of umpiring in the World Cup group A match against Sri Lanka at Northampton on Wednesday after favourites South Africa were dismissed for 199 for nine.
Third umpire Ken Palmer was at the centre of a storm after controversial decisions which led to the dismissals of Shaun Pollock and Daryll Cullinan. Opener Herschelle Gibbs was also unlucky to be given out caught behind.
Former captain Kepler Wessels called the decisions ”very disappointing” while Mike Procter described the dismissal of Pollock as ”absolutely amazing”.
Palmer gave Pollock out caught and bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan for two, despite television replays – also seen by Palmer – apparently showing the ball hitting the ground directly from the bat before ricocheting off Arjuna Ranatunga at silly point and back to Muralitharan.
Cullinan was given out by Palmer for 49 after he heaved a ball from Muralitharan to long-off. Chaminda Vaas took the catch but threw the ball back on to the field as he crashed over the boundary line.
Law 32 reads, in part, ”The act of making the catch shall start from the time when the fieldsman first handles the ball and shall end when he both retains complete control over the further disposal of the ball and remains within the field of play.”
Both decisions were referred to Palmer by Steve Dunne and Steve Bucknor, the on-field umpires.
”Perhaps he needs to have his eyes tested. He took so long to give Pollock out there must have been doubt in his mind,” said Wessels — Reuters