Clive Lloyd on the Hooper/Boucher controversy (29 December 1998)

29 December 1998

Clive Lloyd on the Hooper/Boucher controversy

By Bob Dubery

West Indies team manager Clive Lloyd has stated that he does not believe that Mark Boucher's controversial catch to dismiss Carl Hooper was fair, but he has refused to apportion blame to the wicketkeeper.

Boucher took the catch at a crucial stage of the match and when Hooper had just two runs to his credit. Hooper got an inside edge and was caught behind, but slow motion television replays suggested that Boucher grounded the ball as he caught it. Hooper walked and the on-field umpires did not call for the third umpire to adjudicate.

Lloyd and the team have adopted a philosophical attitude.

"It was just one of those things," said Lloyd today. "Carl knew he had hit it, but he wasn't sure what happened thereafter. If he'd stood then the umpires could have decided it to refer the to the third umpire. But he walked."

"Our players aren't upset about it. Sometimes in those situations you don't know if you've caught the ball or not. It's part and parcel of the game."

Lloyd went on to say that he felt greater use should be made of technology as an aid in making decisions. "If you have the technology then you should use it. If it can be used to rectify situations like this, why not?"

Source :: Bob Dubery