Hair apologises for email

Darrell Hair: 'I am both stunned and gratified by those messages from people I've never even met' © Getty Images

Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire at the centre of the ball-tampering controversy, has maintained a defence of his conditional offer of resignation and issued a statement apologising to his friends and supporters.

"I wish to apologise to all my family, friends and supporters, because I somehow feel that I may have let them down, simply by sending an ill-advised but entirely confidential email," Hair said in a statement after his demand for US$500,000 compensation was made public. "That has given other people the opportunity to question my motives."

Hair had earlier rebutted ICC's version of the email story, claiming he'd been involved in negotiations for his resignation prior to him sending the e-mail with a list of his conditions, including the compensation demand.

"I firstly want to thank my friends and family for their support," the statement continued. "In addition, I want to thank so many supporters from around the world, for their support in huge numbers. I am both stunned and gratified by those messages from people I've never even met."

He also requested for himself, his partner and their neighbours to be given some privacy. "I request that you now respect our privacy and allow us and our neighbours to go about their daily routines free of disruption."

Meanwhile, Hair has been withdrawn from a county second XI fixture he was due to umpire on Wednesday. He was to stand at Chesterfield in the match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire, but has been stood down by the ECB.

Hair has been on the ECB's reserve umpire's list since moving to live in England, from Australia, three years ago. He had been hoping to start umpiring at first-class county level next season.

In the immediate aftermath of The Oval Test, Chris Kelly, the ECB's umpires manager, had said Hair's position in the second XI match would be reviewed if needed. On Tuesday, Kelly told AFP: "It's an inappropriate time for him to do the match with what's going on. There are lots and lots of issues."