Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

[Dry Rot]

Murali plays around the world without incident and then gets called by Hair.

Did Hair get it wrong or was he the only international umpire to have the guts to call him?

And has Hair paid for it for ever since?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

Hair was spot on. He's a dead set chucker! I don't mind Murali, but that action is suss.

I hate the way the Sri Lankan's seem to play the race card everytime something goes against them. They have been succesful in having Pakistan, Bangladesh & India vote with them recently.

There was also the incident where he & Billy Doctrove awarded England 5 penalty runs for ball tampering which lead to Pakistan remaining in the rooms after tea. The umpires subsequently declared England winners by virtue of forfeit, once again leading to allegations of racial prejudice.

He could have handled that incident much better, but he was right with Murali & showed more spine that any other umpire or the jellybacked ICC.

It didn't help that Sri Lanka's captain was Arjuna Ranatunga, who was always carping on about something or other.

If he had his time again I wonder if he'd think life might just be a whole lot easier if he just let Murali get away with it.

Useful background info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Hair

[GVGjr]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

My understanding is that Hair and the NZ umpire had agreed the day before that they would call him. Whoever was umpiring at square leg when he was bowling would call him however, when push came to shove Hair was left high and dry and had to call him from the bowlers end which isn't the norm.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

When Murali started out, Sri Lanka was still a developing nation, couldn't win a game. The ICC decided to cut them some slack and let the young spinner with the dodgy action pass inspection.

Unfortunately for the ICC, that young spinner with the dodgy action has won his country a world cup, countless tests and will retire with the record for test wickets.

By the time they realised how good he was it was too late. They'd made their bed and had to lie in it.

Hair was the only umpire with the balls to act on what every cricket follower in the world (outside Sri Lanka) thought.

[Twodogs]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

Darryl Hair should be regarded as a hero for what he tried to do for cricket. It's a shame that the current ICC hounded him out of the game.

[Mantis]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

I was there at the G on this day. It was a very strange day, we had a huge contigent of Sri Lankan supporters in front of us and they were dumbfounded. It looked like the Sri Lankan's would walk off which would have made for a huge story.

It seemed that Hair was just left to hang out to dry by the ICC and umpiring fraternity after making this brave and correct call.

I think all 'non' Sri Lankan cricket fans believe he throws it. He doesn't chuch every delivery, but the 'doosra' is suspect.

He has made a huge impact on cricket, even had the laws changed to allow him to play in a way. But he is still a chucker.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

When Murali started out, Sri Lanka was still a developing nation, couldn't win a game. The ICC decided to cut them some slack and let the young spinner with the dodgy action pass inspection.

I think this is it in a nutshell. The ICC thought only pace bowlers got extra value from a chucking action so were prepared to be a bit more lenient with spinners. Now that probably the greatest bowler the cricket world has ever seen will be surpassed by the guys with the most suspect action they have effectively devalued the game and the record.
I have never seen anyone of note say his action is clean.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

Darryl Hair should be regarded as a hero for what he tried to do for cricket. It's a shame that the current ICC hounded him out of the game.

He's back!!!

Currently umpiring with Simon Taufel in the England v New Zealand test match.

[hujsh]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

Aside from this he's their second best umpire as well.

If it was an Aussie or Pom he wouldn't be bowling anymore.

[Twodogs]

Re: Darrel Hair v Muralitharan

He's back!!!

Currently umpiring with Simon Taufel in the England v New Zealand test match.

Saw that. I was trying to work out the other day the teams he wouldnt be allowed to umpire. I make it Pakistan and Sri Lanka, because they are sooks, and Australia becuase he's Australian. It's a fairdinkum fantastic system we've got when the best decision maker in the umpiring fraternity effectivly cant umpire any game involving almost half the test playing nations.


Well done ICC- heres a slow golf clap to celebrate.