Umpire Dickie Bird supports M S Dhoni for hitting out at umpiring

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's candour has won him many fans over the years. The latest in the ever-increasing list is legendary umpire Dickie Bird, who has come out in support of the Indian captain for his controversial comments at the end of the Jamaica Test. Quizzed about the poor umpiring decisions in the post-match press briefing, Dhoni said on Thursday: "If the correct decisions were made, the game would have finished much earlier and I would have been in the hotel by now."

India captain MS Dhoni leaves the field after being dismissed during the
u00a0first day of the first Test against West Indies at Sabina Park in
Kingston on June 20. Pic/AFP

The International Cricket Council (ICC) stipulates that criticising officials could lead to a reprimand, if not a fine. Dhoni didn't name the umpire (Australia's Daryl Harper) but it won't be off the mark to say he did breach ICC's legislation.

Dickie Bird

Bird supported Dhoni's decision to attack the umpiring. "Captains are entitled to pass opinions on umpires -- it is healthy for the sport. I don't see anything wrong in them judging us (umpires)," the Yorkshireman told
MiD DAY over telephone yesterday. "Why should he be penalised?" asked Bird. "In years gone by, captains used to openly criticise umpiring decisions - we used to take it sportingly. These days, the match referee steps in, and that's something I am against."

Bird said ICC must consider returning to the age-old system of umpires standing in a game between the tourists and a county side. "In my era, we used to have a county match against tourists before the Test series started. "That way, the captain could judge us and pass opinions to us before the start of a series. Most of us joined players at the nets too -- that doesn't happen so much nowadays. I don't think there was any harm in that. That system worked brilliantly, ensured players were comfortable with an umpire," said Bird.
The 78-year-old is no fan of the UDRS. "Use of technology is good for certain tough decisions, but it must not take over the game. "We wouldn't require umpires any longer if more and more technology enters the game," he said.

Cause of MSD's wrath...
lWhen India were 99-3 in their second innings, Virat Kohli flirted with a Fidel Edwards ball aimed at his ribcage. Replays were inconclusive - but Kohli was convinced that it was his shirt that brushed the ball. He was distraught at Daryl Harper's decision. No UDRS. So, keep walking, son.

* When India were 148-4, Suresh Raina was given out caught by Darren Sammy off Devendra Bishoo. Replays revealed that there was no glove involved. The ball struck Raina's pad, on the way to the 'keeper's thigh pad, through to leg-slip.u00a0 Raina was disappointed. Non-striker Dravid had to console him.

* When India were 165-5, Dhoni was caught at square-cover off Devendra Bishoo. Replays revealed that it was a no-ball.

* When India were 183-6, Harbhajan Singh was adjudged lbw off Darren Sammy. Replays suggested that the ball would have clearly bounced over the stumps.

* When West Indies were 64-2 in their second innings, replays clearly showed that Darren Bravo edged an Ishant Sharma delivery.u00a0 Daryl Harper was unmoved.

* In the space of six balls from Harbhajan Singh (overs 17 to 21), Shivnarine Chanderpaul survived two close lbw shouts. In the first one, replays showed the ball was marginally pitching outside line, but could have been given out nine out of ten times. In the next, Chanderpaul was plumb in front.

And India still doesn't want UDRS...
The reluctance to use UDRS has worked against India on several occasions this year. India could have won a historic Test series in SA, only if technology would have aided some tantalisingly close shouts that went against Harbhajan Singh at Cape Town. Only if the visitors had technology to aid them in Kingston, they would have won the Test ahead of time, as suggested by their skipper. What UDRS does is that it negates the glaring howlers. Sure, it's not flawless, but when Suresh Raina is given caught at leg-slip to a ball that wasn't anywhere close to his glove, there's an even stronger case to make UDRS mandatory for all Tests. Dhoni and BCCI may finally revisit their decision and welcome UDRS that would be debated at this weekend's ICC annual conference in Hong Kong.

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