Analysis

Third-umpire gaffe

The third-umpire gaffe while ruling on Andrew Symonds's run-out



Andrew Symonds was beaten by a direct hit from Dwayne Smith, but for a brief moment, he thought he had survived © Getty Images
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

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