da brwin： Cricket has a rare tradition of allowing players to judge those who pronounce verdicts on them
da wazamba： Anand Vasu02-Jul-2004
Sairaj Bahutule sees the light© AFP
Cricket has a rare tradition of allowing players to judge those whopronounce verdicts on them. During the domestic season in India,captains of both teams, and the match referee, submit a report assessingthe umpires and expectedly, not all the comments are flattering. Theirreports of the 2003-04 season, a copy of which is available withWisden Cricinfo, make for remarkable reading.The most interesting case concerns the fourth round Ranji Trophy matchbetween Andhra Pradeshand Mumbai. Sairaj Bahutule, the Mumbai captain, was scathing in hisreport. In his report on the first day, he wrote, “It was a flat wicket. [The Umpire]did not have much work to do throughout the day but at the end of theday Mr. Gomes made very silly mistakes. This gives an impression that hecame under pressure . Bad judgment of light. After stopping the game,within 2 minutes [of] the time [that the] batsmen reached the boundary line theumpires asked them to start the game. I am surprised the light improvedin two minutes – what a judgment – 2 balls later he again stopped and welost a wicket. Such kind of umpires’ eyesight should be checked.”As the days progressed, the reports got worse. “I think this kind ofumpires are spoiling the games all over India,” wrote Bahutule.”Naturally the game is not going to improve. We understand that one canmake [a] mistake, but not [that] one does not know ABCD of the game.”I do not know whether my report is going to be considered, but Iam doing my duty as a captain to inform the board,” wrote Bahutule ofFrancis Gomes, one of the umpires standing in the match. “It is a pity,I have been playing for a long time and see many umpires on the fielddespite their getting bad reports.”But, in case you think the traffic was one-way, have a look at what theumpires report said of the players for the same game. “The behaviour ofMumbai players, particularly Sairaj Bahutule and Robin Morris, was veryrude. They used abusive language and advanced towards the opponents andumpires in aggressive manner. Chandra Kant Pundit [sic, Mumbai’s coach] shouted at thetop of his voice. The captain threatened to spoil the umpires report andgive zero mark.”And then the match referee weighed in with his comments. “At the end ofthe game I had received a complaint from the umpires. The attitude ofMumbai players was not up to the mark. For Ranji Champions they weretrying to pressurise the umpires unduly for getting first-innings leadin close match.” Close match? Mumbai made 504 for 6 declared and Andhraresponded with 298 all out. Does Rahul Sapru, the match referee,genuinely believe that is a close match?While this match drew the juiciest comments, there were several othersin a similar vein. Mandar Phadke, the Goa captain, had this to say in oneof his reports. “Three lbw decisions were not up to the mark. Thesedecisions showed the lack of knowledge of both umpires regarding [the] lbw law.Too many controversial decisions given. Mr. Choudhury has absolutely noknowledge regarding lbw rule. The knowledge of both umpires regardingdecision making is absolutely zero. Both umpires were not able to handlepressure. Such umpires should not be allowed to officiate in RanjiTrophy matches.”But it’s not just Ranji Trophy matches that have come under thescanner. Anil Kumble made his views quite clear when he filled out hisreport after leading India A in a Challenger Trophy match. “Poorstandard of umpiring in such an important and high profile tournament.”The umpires in question were Narendra Menon and SP Gupta. Sourav Gangulytoo did not mince words. “The umpires were too ordinary,” he wrote,after leading Rest of India in the Zal Irani Cup match against Mumbai.For international flavour there is the report filled out by Lanka deSilva, captain of the Sri Lanka A team which played against India A.Umpire BA Jamula was the man in question. “Fast bowler Lasith Malingawas warned “not to hit the batsman” when he was bowling. With all duerespect it is up to the batsman to avoid being hit, especially a middle-order batsman (40 not out). The umpire cannot ask the bowler not to hitthe batsman unless it is deliberately and continuous initimidatorybowling which it clearly was not.”How much weight these reports carry when it comes to postings umpiresreceive is not entirely clear. Umpire K Parthasarathi, for example,clearly did not think they meant much. During the Services v HimachalPradesh match he left the ground with 20 overs remaining in the day, andreturned in civvies, abandoning his shoes and umpire’s uniform. When oneof the players complained, he is alleged to have told them they couldreport the matter to the BCCI for all he cared.At the end of the year, the board has a thick file full of reports onumpires written out by players and match referees. If you speak to theumpires, they tell you that the captains report is simply a device bywhich captains let off steam and lash out at umpires for their own poorperformances. The players say it’s the only way they can complain abouta panel of umpires that is badly trained and worse motivated. The truthlies somewhere in between.Anand Vasu is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.
