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Billy brushes off blunders
21 February 2005
By JONATHAN MILLMOW
Flashy New Zealand umpire Brent "Billy" Bowden denies he and Daniel Vettori have a fractured relationship and are on a collision course in the second one-day international in Christchurch tomorrow.
Speaking exclusively to The Dominion Post, Bowden staunchly defended his mixed performance in the series opener between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington on Saturday night.
Bowden appeared to make two mistakes in Australia's nailbiting 10-run victory, one of which was declining a vociferous leg before wicket appeal by Vettori against Matthew Hayden.
Television replays also showed Bowden mistakenly gave Hayden not out when he gloved a leg-side delivery from Kyle Mills when on 31. Hayden went on to top-score with 71.
"I'll have a look at the highlights, my sister tapes them for me, but whenever I umpire I do so to the best of my ability," Bowden said.
"As a batsman or an umpire a ball always has your number on it and if I made a mistake, so be it."
Bowden claimed his relationship with Vettori would start from scratch at Jade Stadium, despite numerous exchanges on Saturday afternoon.
Vettori snatched his cap from Bowden in disgust at the end of the Hayden appeal over and their running battle came to a head at the completion of Vettori's 10-over spell.
Vettori and Bowden appeared to debate the merits of their respective performances and the issue was only resolved – in the short term at least – by the intervention of New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.
Bowden declined to elaborate on what was said but The Dominion Post understands Bowden was concerned at Vettori's behaviour and Vettori in turn felt he could have been shown the respect due to someone playing his 147th match.
"After 10 overs players get frustrated with the way they have bowled or the way decisions went," Bowden said. "I talked to Stephen and we got on with the game. I haven't got a problem with Dan, I've umpired him a long time and I think we have mutual respect.
"There won't be a problem in Christchurch, in fact I hope he bowls at my end. I would be disappointed in myself if I couldn't be professional and look any player in the eye the next day. The cap thing wasn't a big issue. I've had guys almost rip my elbow off, Dan's was just a little tickle."
AdvertisementAdvertisementA stony-faced Fleming steered clear of the umpiring debate but it continues like a raging bush fire, with former test captains Ken Rutherford and Martin Crowe wading into the fertile ground in their respective Sunday newspaper columns yesterday.
Rutherford claimed Bowden had become too familiar with the Australians while Crowe felt the umpire was suffering from fatigue.
Their criticism, though more direct than recent outbursts from former test opener Mark Richardson and Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, maintains a recurring theme of subconscious bias by the elite umpires toward Australia.
Woolmer claimed his team was on the wrong end of a 29-5 count in 50-50 calls in Australia while New Zealand returned home in December on the wrong side of the umpiring ledger 11-2.
On Saturday alone, three dubious calls went Australia's way – the other involving Fleming when he was adjudged by Pakistan's Aleem Dar to be leg before wicket to Brett Lee when the ball was headed down the leg side.
Bowden said he was aware the spotlight was firmly on the umpires but took umbrage at Rutherford's claims that he saw too much of Australia.
"I don't appoint myself to umpiring Australia, that is the ICC," Bowden said.
"It can be a heads and tails thing. If you are umpiring a team you know it can help because you learn how certain players bat and how they bowl.
"With the bowlers you understand how they bowl and what angle they come from.
"Before any game you do your stats and you often know how many times a certain players has been out lbw or caught behind recently. The more you do of one side the more you learn about their strengths and weaknesses.
"Having said all that, whenever you walk out into the middle you are always operating in the `now'."
Interesting article.....My opinion is that Billy is too familar with the Aussies, so much so he can't see it himself. I reckon Vettori's LBW for example would have been given straight away if it were Warne appealing.
Any thoughts/rections to the article
21 February 2005
By JONATHAN MILLMOW
Flashy New Zealand umpire Brent "Billy" Bowden denies he and Daniel Vettori have a fractured relationship and are on a collision course in the second one-day international in Christchurch tomorrow.
Speaking exclusively to The Dominion Post, Bowden staunchly defended his mixed performance in the series opener between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington on Saturday night.
Bowden appeared to make two mistakes in Australia's nailbiting 10-run victory, one of which was declining a vociferous leg before wicket appeal by Vettori against Matthew Hayden.
Television replays also showed Bowden mistakenly gave Hayden not out when he gloved a leg-side delivery from Kyle Mills when on 31. Hayden went on to top-score with 71.
"I'll have a look at the highlights, my sister tapes them for me, but whenever I umpire I do so to the best of my ability," Bowden said.
"As a batsman or an umpire a ball always has your number on it and if I made a mistake, so be it."
Bowden claimed his relationship with Vettori would start from scratch at Jade Stadium, despite numerous exchanges on Saturday afternoon.
Vettori snatched his cap from Bowden in disgust at the end of the Hayden appeal over and their running battle came to a head at the completion of Vettori's 10-over spell.
Vettori and Bowden appeared to debate the merits of their respective performances and the issue was only resolved – in the short term at least – by the intervention of New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.
Bowden declined to elaborate on what was said but The Dominion Post understands Bowden was concerned at Vettori's behaviour and Vettori in turn felt he could have been shown the respect due to someone playing his 147th match.
"After 10 overs players get frustrated with the way they have bowled or the way decisions went," Bowden said. "I talked to Stephen and we got on with the game. I haven't got a problem with Dan, I've umpired him a long time and I think we have mutual respect.
"There won't be a problem in Christchurch, in fact I hope he bowls at my end. I would be disappointed in myself if I couldn't be professional and look any player in the eye the next day. The cap thing wasn't a big issue. I've had guys almost rip my elbow off, Dan's was just a little tickle."
AdvertisementAdvertisementA stony-faced Fleming steered clear of the umpiring debate but it continues like a raging bush fire, with former test captains Ken Rutherford and Martin Crowe wading into the fertile ground in their respective Sunday newspaper columns yesterday.
Rutherford claimed Bowden had become too familiar with the Australians while Crowe felt the umpire was suffering from fatigue.
Their criticism, though more direct than recent outbursts from former test opener Mark Richardson and Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, maintains a recurring theme of subconscious bias by the elite umpires toward Australia.
Woolmer claimed his team was on the wrong end of a 29-5 count in 50-50 calls in Australia while New Zealand returned home in December on the wrong side of the umpiring ledger 11-2.
On Saturday alone, three dubious calls went Australia's way – the other involving Fleming when he was adjudged by Pakistan's Aleem Dar to be leg before wicket to Brett Lee when the ball was headed down the leg side.
Bowden said he was aware the spotlight was firmly on the umpires but took umbrage at Rutherford's claims that he saw too much of Australia.
"I don't appoint myself to umpiring Australia, that is the ICC," Bowden said.
"It can be a heads and tails thing. If you are umpiring a team you know it can help because you learn how certain players bat and how they bowl.
"With the bowlers you understand how they bowl and what angle they come from.
"Before any game you do your stats and you often know how many times a certain players has been out lbw or caught behind recently. The more you do of one side the more you learn about their strengths and weaknesses.
"Having said all that, whenever you walk out into the middle you are always operating in the `now'."
Interesting article.....My opinion is that Billy is too familar with the Aussies, so much so he can't see it himself. I reckon Vettori's LBW for example would have been given straight away if it were Warne appealing.
Any thoughts/rections to the article