By IANS,
Melbourne : Umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove came under the scanner after ruling Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz out on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Hauritz was given his marching orders, even though no apparent appeal was made by the South Africans after a low edge from the Australian went to Proteas captain Graeme Smith at slip Friday.
Smith was unsure whether he had jammed his fingers under the ball and shrugged his shoulders in a questioning motion to square leg umpire Doctrove. Both Dar and Doctrove then discussed the issue before signalling for a decision from the third umpire, Australia’s Bruce Oxenford.
Oxenford reviewed the incident from several angles before declining to give Hauritz the benefit of the doubt. After Hauritz was given out, boos resounded the MCG as the catch was repeated on the large electronic screens.
However, several former Australian Test greats had no qualms with the verdict and 65 per cent of fans who responded to a Channel 9 poll said the correct decision was made, media here reported.
The rules of the game state no batsman shall be given out by an umpire unless there is an appeal from the fielding side. They also state the batsman shall be given not out if there is any doubt about the dismissal.