Third-umpire gaffe
The third-umpire gaffe while ruling on Andrew Symonds's run-out
Play of the Day by Peter English at Hobart
19-Nov-2005
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Technology extended Andrew Symonds's batting return to
Tests by about two minutes as Steve Davis, the third
umpire, pressed the wrong button when ruling on his
run-out decision. Recalled for his third Test, Symonds
was completing a start-stop-start single when Dwayne
Smith's direct hit caught him well short and Aleem Dar
favoured caution by calling in Davis. Using a new
computer program, Davis accidentally clicked "not out"
and Symonds, who knew he was gone and had angrily
wandered almost as far as the boundary, ambled back in
a better mood. A quick two-way conversation between
the on-field umpires ensued before the red "out"
signal finally appeared on the big screen and Symonds
departed even more frustrated.
Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo