Galle storm over Dravid referral

Sun, Aug 3 01:20 AM

ALTHOUGH THERE is no facility for a team to make an official complaint about a match official during the course of a game, Anil Kumble and coach Gary Kirsten made sure they paid a visit to match referee Alan Hurst after stumps on Day III. It's clear that the team is not happy with the way some things have gone in this Test. Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain, was defensive to the point of being petulant when told there was some doubt in the lbw decision Rahul Dravid got after the matter was referred to the third umpire.

"You tell me why the decision was iffy," Jayawardene shot back. "Dravid was playing a sweep shot for a full ball and if the umpire had another look at it he would have given it.

It was very close to the pad." While it was clear that the point of impact was inside the line of the stumps, it also has to be said that the ball still had 2.5 metres to travel and that there was no way Silva could have said with certainty that the ball was going to hit the stumps.

With the ball having travelled a short distance before making contact with pad, there was no way of saying just how much it would have deviated had pad not come in the way. That means doubt, and traditionally the benefit of doubt goes to the batsman.

What also caught the eye, apart from the inordinate delay in seeking the review, was Jayawardene's conversation with standing umpire Billy Doctrove. The SL captain then confirmed that he was checking why the umpire had turned down the appeal and that this was permitted by the ICC. "The reason behind these referrals is to see whether the umpire has made a mistake.

In the space of time we have been given I should be able to ask why he said not out," said Jayawardene. He also clarified that the on-field captain was not allowed to seek direction from his teammates or coaching staff in the dressing room, who may have seen a replay of the delivery in question.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY