OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Sunday 2.20pm.
RAIN washed out the morning session on the fourth day of the first Test between England and Zimbabwe at Lord’s on Sunday.
The umpires were to make an inspection at 11:15 GMT, 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time, but when there was a heavy shower shortly before that they decided to make a further inspection at 12:40 GMT.
Zimbabwe, needing 293 to avoid an innings defeat, were 39 for five overnight and heading for a heavy defeat with two days remaining.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s tour management are to refer two umpiring decisions on the third day of the first Test against England to match referee Graham Dowling of New Zealand.
The decisions at Lord’s on Saturday, involving England century-makers Alec Stewart and Graeme Hick, were both resolved in the batsman’s favour by third umpire John Holder after watching slow motion television footage.
Strike bowler Heath Streak revealed the move during a news conference at close of play on the third day.
“The two caught behind decisions that were referred to the third umpire are being queried by our management with the match referee,” he said.
Asked if the management thought the official got it wrong, Streak said: “I think that’s what they thought, so they are taking it to the match referee.
“Both dismissals were similar in what we saw television-wise, and they were two different decisions in the end.”
Pressed on whether he thought the two batsmen should have been given out, Streak said: “I can’t comment on that, unfortunately.”
In the incident involving Stewart when he had scored 24, the ball appeared to have brushed his glove as he tried to pull, and was caught behind by Andy Flower. Stewart went on to an unbeaten 124. — AFP