Technology fails to come to New Zealand's aid
Published:Saturday | March 19, 2011 | 12:00 AM
MUMBAI, India (AP):New Zealand became the latest team to question the umpire decision referral system at the ICC Cricket World Cup when Nathan McCullum was denied a caught and bowled decision against Sri Lanka yesterday.
Sri Lanka were 87-2 when McCullum dived low to his right to take a breathtaking catch from Mahela Jayawardene's defensive push.
The umpires, and apparently Jayawardene, couldn't decide if the ball had hit the ground first, but replays appeared to show that it hadn't.
TV umpire Amiesh Saheba wasn't convinced though, and Jayawardene was given the benefit of the doubt, going on to partner captain Kumar Sangakkara in a 145-run stand as Sri Lanka won by 112 runs.
McCullum was clearly angry about the decision, and captain Ross Taylor intervened as tempers threatened to boil over.
"I guess when you think you've taken a catch - and it was a stunning catch I thought - the emotions are going through you,'' Taylor said. "All I said to him was try and get him out.
"The next couple of balls, I think he got hit for four, so that didn't work,'' Taylor joked.
Taylor said he hadn't managed to see a replay of the catch, but that he had been told by other New Zealanders that it had carried.
batsman reprieved
The incident followed a similar one during England's win over West Indies on Thursday. On that occasion, Jonathan Trott took a catch as he slid backwards towards the boundary rope.
The third umpire was asked to decide if Trott had touched the rope, and with replays inconclusive, batsman Andre Russell was reprieved - and awarded a six.
Taylor was asked whether he would prefer to revert to the days when decisions were left up to the honesty of the players.
"I guess it depends on the person,'' Taylor said. "Look at Jacques Kallis, he asked the fielder if they caught it, and he trusts the word of the fielder.''
Facing England, South African all-rounder Kallis opted against referring the decision, and asked wicketkeeper Matt Prior if he had gloved a catch cleanly before walking.