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Post by Maestro on Aug 27, 2006 14:21:55 GMT 5.5
Cricket is no longer a gentleman's game. The actions of umpire Daryll Hair support this theory.
With his actions he has shown officials are more important than players and principles take precedence over common sense.
To this extent, Hair both disrupted and destructed the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at the Oval.
Hair had determined that Pakistan were guilty of ball tampering. Now ball tampering is a serious charge especially when made in the face of inadequate evidence.
And in handing out the punishment Hair ensured that the path to compromise was totally blocked.
This subsequent rejection of compromise has done more damage to cricket than the alleged issue of ball tampering.
The Pakistani cricketers were naturally upset by Hair's knee-jerk judgment and punishment.
Resentment spewed forth but sanity later prevailed both teams were ready to play. Except Hair, who stopped the game and awarded victory to England.
Hair's philosophy that the umpire is the most important authority in cricket is, more often than not, based less on principle and more on petulance.
This perceived lack of humanity and common sense during a crisis has contributed to his controversial reputation.
England and Pakistan have fought fiercely but decently in this series, despite horrific umpiring errors. It's a shame that one man's vanity had to spoil this contest.
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