Llong moved off third umpire duty

Nigel Llong has apparently been moved off third umpire duty for the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Llong, who was at the centre of an umpiring controversy during New Zealand's series in Australia, was initially listed by the ICC as third umpire in Hamilton but will now be one of the on-field officials in both matches.

Llong was in the news last week for his controversial decision, as a third umpire, to rule Nathan Lyon not out on review during the Adelaide Test between Australia and New Zealand. On the second day of the Test, Lyon top-edged an attempted sweep to slip and New Zealand asked for a review after the on-field umpire turned down their appeal for a catch.

After five minutes of replays, Llong upheld S Ravi's decision even though there was a clear Hot Spot on the top edge of Lyon's bat, and the batsman had walked halfway to the dressing room in anticipation of being given out.

The decision was hotly debated and criticised by television commentators and the media at the time but the New Zealand players and team management were guarded in their response. After New Zealand Cricket questioned the decision, the ICC admitted that Llong had made "an incorrect judgement". In a tweet, the ICC said: "ICC has reviewed the decision and acknowledged that it was incorrect. ICC confirms the umpire followed the correct protocol, but made an incorrect judgement."

Llong will officiate New Zealand's two-Test series with Sri Lanka along with Richard Kettleborough and Paul Reiffel. Kettleborough will be the third umpire for the second Test, which begins on December 18, instead of Llong.

Former Kent allrounder Llong joined the ECB's international umpire's panel in 2006 and replaced Billy Doctrove on the ICC's Elite Panel of international umpires in June 2012. Llong has officiated in 33 Tests, 98 ODIs and 27 T20 internationals so far.