By overlooking the Ponting-Aamer clash, has match referee Broad once again shown his prejudice and partiality over pigmentation?

Has Chris Broad once again shown his prejudice and partiality?

On-field umpire Ian Gould may have thought nothing of the argy bargy involving Ricky Ponting and Pakistan's emerging champion pace bowler Mohammad Aamer after the Australian captain was dismissed for 26 on the first day of the "neutral" Test, but match referee Chris Broad clearly further blotted his notorious copybook by choosing not to enforce the much-touted Spirit of Cricket under which this 'neutral' series is being played.

Obviously piqued at the 18-year old Pakistani's exuberance after he had been dismissed, caught at short leg by debutant Umar Amin, Ponting, currently the world's second highest Test run scoring batsman, blatantly poked his elbow into the ribs of the rampaging bowler in full public view.

Mohammad Aamer (left) collides with Ricky Ponting after the Australian skipper was caught off the Pakistani's bowling on Day One of the Lord's Test. pic/AFP

The unbecoming act, reminiscent of the brutality of the Dutch team in the FIFA World Cup final, may have been an involuntary reaction on the part of the captain, who averages only 16.87 and has a highest score of 42 at the former headquarters of cricket.

Only Ponting knows whether or not it was by way of retaliation for the equally deplorable act of Aamer, who deliberately bumped into Michael Clarke during a Twenty20 match against Australia last week.

However, the fact remains that, once again, the indulgent match referee happened to be Broad, a hothead in his playing days if ever there was one, who has gained widespread notoriety among players of the sub-continent for his alleged prejudice and partiality over pigmentation.

The Pakistanis, dubbed the 'home' team in this series given their 'refugee' status (since no team is presently prepared to play in that country due to security concerns), have apparently chosen to ignore the incident.

It remains to be seen if they will persist with their "mezbaan" sportsmanship if they lose the Test, which seems to be swinging the Aussies' way at the end of the second day.

*****
The Pakistanis will probably also rue their decision not to agree to the UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System), the technology that enables review of umpires' decisions and provides for limited challenges against them, as in tennis.

u00a0The touring "home side" have cited financial compulsions for disagreeing to the Australians' insistence on the UDRS, but they will be the first to agree that lack of it cost them dearly on the first morning.

Had the UDRS been in operation, they might have won challenges involving Simon Katich and Michael Hussey early in their innings. The two veterans went on to lay the foundation of what now appears to be a match-winning first innings score.

Pakistan will probably also regret not agreeing to the use of floodlights in the series after the MCC painstakingly persuaded local residents and the city council to permit the use of lights.

Had they agreed, Pakistan could probably have wrapped up the Australian inning on the first day itself when the overcast conditions through the greater part of the day made batting an unenviable proposition.

As it turned out, the wicket played easy on the second morning and the Australian last-wicket pair went on to add 21 valuable runs.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels