Top 5 controversial cricket umpires of all time

#2 Mark Benson

Mark Benson with the Indian team during the infamous Sydney Test in 2008

Benson was a reputed umpire in the international circuit and was also awarded the umpire of the year for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008. But the 2008 Sydney Test involving India and Australia took a dramatic reverse turn in his career.

With Steve Bucknor, the duo was involved in several controversial decisions throughout the Test, a match which is regarded as the most disgraceful Test as far as controversial umpiring decisions are concerned.

The controversy began on the very first morning, when Ricky Ponting was incorrectly given not out, despite nicking a delivery down the leg side of the bowling of Sourav Ganguly. Wrong decisions kept coming throughout Australia’s 1^st innings as they recovered from 134/6 to post a mammoth 463.

Benson also irked Indian supporters when he asked Ricky Ponting whether Michael Clarke took the catch to dismiss Sourav Ganguly cleanly in the slips in India’s 2^nd innings. Replays suggested that the ball had clearly touched the ground before Clarke held it.

Benson opposed the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in 2009 and eventually retired from international cricket in the same year.