ACB must take part of the blame (26 January 1999)

26 January 1999

ACB must take part of the blame

Errol Seneviratne

The Australian Cricket Board must take part of the blame for what happened at the Adelaide Oval when England played Sri Lanka in the Carlton and United Series in front of a decent Saturday crowd.

Sri Lanka's captain, Arjuna Ranatunga had the last say, infact it was Ranatunga who was controlling the game out in the centre and not the umpires.

The two umpires, Ross Emerson and Tony McQuillan were 'out of order' and incompetent to stand in a International game. Those umpires should never have been nominated to stand in International games and now that they have shown how incompetent they were, it is best the Aussie Board asks them to 'pack up'.

The calling of the ace offspinner, Muttiah Muralitharan by umpire Emerson was a joke, because just after it happened he continued to bowl.

The icing on the cake was when Ranatunga had to indicate to Emerson as to where he should stand as Head Umpire by tracing a line for him behind the non striker's stumps. Ranatunga was right all the way, as he knew the umpires were not good enough to stand at International level.

One of the best allrounders World Cricket has seen, Ian Botham commentating said " Sorry Umpire, you are out of order. You are just a club cricketer trying to tell the ICC committee that they don't know what they are talking about 'throwing' ".

Let's hope the world of cricket would never have to see these two umpires stand again in an International game. They have already brought the game into disrepute and should be taken off the panel. Having been on their knees Sri Lanka came back fighting to pull off yet another great victory over England.

Errol Seneviratne is a former Sri Lanka and international umpire.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)