The last Ashes without referrals – a running tally of umpiring errors

[Richard]

That's certainly not the view Australia take on him tbh.

Last I checked "Australia" wasn't one person TBH. I've heard several Australians comment along those lines - ask CW's own howardj, for one:

I think Billy Bowden likes to be liked by the Aussie players. For instance, his hugging of Steve Waugh and posing with him for photographs after his Sydney swansong last year, was the most cringeworthy display from an umpire ever. Subconsciously I think his desire to be liked by the Aussie players has a bearing on his umpiring.

Bloody Bowden should never be allowed near an Australian match, let alone an Ashes Test. He is so sycophantic towards the Aussies. He just loves to be loved by the Aussies. Who will ever forget his absolutely pathetic show of affection towards Steve Waugh in his farewell test in Sydney in 2004? Billy had to let Steve know just how much he cared by giving Steve a hug; by having his photo taken with Steve etc etc. It was embarrassing.

Heard more than a few Kiwi disaffectionate voices that way too.

TBF, though, it's been far less obvious in the last few years than it was around the 2003-2004-2005 mark. Possibly that's because I've only seen him Umpire about 3 games involving Australia in that time, but possibly it's because he's gotten over his little foibles.

 

[Richard]

BTW I've barely tallied for this match, given I barely watched... (!)... so can someone give me a list of the errors?

Someone....................... anyone?

 

[Burgey]

Someone....................... anyone?

There were 26 errors in the 4th test, all in England's favour.

Nine of them were not outs in the first innings, meaning they really should have been all out for three.

When we batted, 10 of our dismissals weren't out, so we could still be batting now.

Then in England's second innings, there were another 7 blatant outs that weren't given.

Whole thing should have been over before stumps day one.

At least, that's how I saw it.....

 

[GIMH]

 

[Richard]

Bloody hell, Strauss' dismissal to Hilfenhaus in the Oval first-innings was an even bigger no-ball than Flintoff's one to get Katich at Lord's in the second.

2 wickets to un-called no-balls so far this series. Not good. At least it's 1 to each side now.

 

[zaremba]

I haven't been watching today but TMS are saying that:
- Bell was perhaps lucky not to be given out caught first ball
- Strauss was out of a massive no ball that the umpire missed

 

[Top_Cat]

I haven't been watching today but TMS are saying that:
- Bell was perhaps lucky not to be given out caught first ball

Missed the ball by miles, pretty dirty if he was given.

- Strauss was out of a massive no ball that the umpire missed

Indeed he was. Shocking miss.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Saw Hilfy's scalp in the tea break. Absolutely massive no-ball; horror show. With line judgements like that there's no defence for the ump at all. Just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Front-foot no-balls should be called by the 3rd umpire, surely? Since we moved to front-foot rule how often do batsmen have time to adjust to play a shot on the nb call anyway? It's a no-brainer for me.

 

[pasag]

^agree, though as Richard said, it is 1-1 on that count now.

 

[Richard]

I haven't been watching today but TMS are saying that:
- Bell was perhaps lucky not to be given out caught first ball

Wasn't convinced on that at all myself. Best we can say for sure is that it might've brushed the strap of his glove - it certainly hit the wrist. Certainly no way to conclusively say he should have been given out. I reckon any batsman given out for that has right to be a little aggrieved.

 

[Pratters]

Yeah, agreed. It's like giving the dodgy LBW.

 

[Burgey]

Saw Hilfy's scalp in the tea break. Absolutely massive no-ball; horror show. With line judgements like that there's no defence for the ump at all. Just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Front-foot no-balls should be called by the 3rd umpire, surely? Since we moved to front-foot rule how often do batsmen have time to adjust to play a shot on the nb call anyway? It's a no-brainer for me.

AWTA re the third umpire.

Reckon they didn't show the out ball myself. Sky hi-jinks, excuses and all that.

Want to see it run through from side on like the Fred-Kat one was earlier in the season. Was a seriously massive no ball to miss. Surely the only way to miss a no ball that big would be for the umpire simply not to have been looking.

 

[Pratters]

It is an absolute joke that the series doesn't have referrals in my opinion. And this wouldn't have required a referral even - just a wireless message from the third umpire that that was a no ball.

 

[social]

Strauss' decision today was the worst of the series

Well done Bill, yoiu've retained your title

 

[marc71178]

It is an absolute joke that the series doesn't have referrals in my opinion. And this wouldn't have required a referral even - just a wireless message from the third umpire that that was a no ball.

The thing is, the referral wouldn't have been called for for this sort of dismissal as Strauss hit it and it was caught cleanly.

I've been mentioning for years that the 3rd umpire should have all no balls and leave the man in the middle to concentrate on just one end of the pitch - far more chance of getting the pitching outside leg and all that stuff right.

 

[zaremba]

Reports are that Bell also out off a no ball, although a closer one than Strauss.

Watson lucky to be given not out LBW to Flintoff. (Hit the next ball for 4, obviously).

 

[pasag]

Reports are that Bell also out off a no ball, although a closer one than Strauss.

Watson lucky to be given not out LBW to Flintoff. (Hit the next ball for 4, obviously).

Did we actually bowl any legal deliveries yesterday?

 

[Dissector]

Watson lucky to be given not out LBW to Flintoff. (Hit the next ball for 4, obviously).

Tbh Flintoff didn't seem 100% convinced of that appeal and in real time I wondered if he had got an edge. But yes Watson was lucky there.

 

[zaremba]

Did we actually bowl any legal deliveries yesterday?

The other pity about those two dismissals is that it was two runs robbed from Extras - year in, year out, Extras has been just about England's most reliable performer

 

[zaremba]

Tbh Flintoff didn't seem 100% convinced of that appeal and in real time I wondered if he had got an edge. But yes Watson was lucky there.

I'm relying on TMS here btw - but the commentators certainly agree with you that he was lucky.