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Journalism of Courage
Former India cricketers lashed out at the umpires for their ‘incompetence’ during the second India-Australia cricket Test at Sydney and called for the immediate retirement of controversial West Indian Steve Bucknor.
The ex-cricketers also deplored Australians’ unsporting conduct during the match and felt it was no longer a gentleman’s game.
It was a combination of inept batting and “atrocious umpiring” that did India in, felt former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani.
“Umpiring standards have gone down in this match, particularly in Bucknor’s case. He is losing his vision and hearing as shown by some of his decisions. I suggest there should be a fitness test for umpires as well.”
Kirmani also trained his guns at the Australians, saying that Ricky Ponting’s men did not show “sportsmanship.”
He said the umpires should use technology whenever they are in doubt.
“Whenever there is a doubt, the benefit should go to the batsman. But even if that’s not the case, the on-field umpires should consult the third umpire as Bucknor did on a couple of occasions. But there was no consistency,” Kirmani added.
Former captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was particularly incensed with umpire Mark Benson for not consulting his colleague Bucknor about the contentious catch of Sourav Ganguly.
