Umpiring at its Worst - The 2008 India-Australia match with nine wrong decisions

Between January 2 and January 6 in 2008, India and Australia clashed at the SCG – a match more memorable for the umpiring decisions than the actual cricket played. It was the 2nd Test Match of famous Border-Gavaskar Series, being played well before DRS was brought into implementation in Test Cricket.In cricket, you lose the match because either you played bad or the other team played much better. But there is another reason owing to which despite playing better cricket, you can be on the wrong side of the trophy when the day ends and that is, some erroneous decisions which ultimately cost heavily for the team lost. The Australian and Indian sides were captained by Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni respectively. The toss was won by Australia and they chose to bat first.Interestingly, one of the on-field umpires was the World record holder (for officiating most Test matches), Steve Bucknor, while the other one was Mark Bensen; the third umpire's duties were performed by Bruce Oxenford.Umpires discussing weather conditions - Steve Bucknor is not giving anybody out on this occasion

#1 Decision # 1

Australia 1st Innings 45-2, 13.1 Overs, Bowler Ganguly, Batsman Ponting (17), Umpire Bensen

Ganguly bowls down the leg side which gets a slight edge off Ponting’s bat and is taken by MS Dhoni. All go up except for the umpire’s finger. Ponting does not move while replay confirms a definite edge through audio devices and snicko-meter. It seems as if everybody heard the noise with the sole exception of Mark Bensen.

Bensen 1 Bucknor 0

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#2 Decision # 2

Australia 1st Innings 119-3, 29.5 Overs, Bowler Harbhajan, Batsman Ponting (55), Umpire Bensen

Well, some would say it was justice even though delayed. Ponting scored 38 runs since he was given another life by Bensen when he was batting at 17. He was now on 55, facing Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan bowls him a straighter one which hits his pads right in front of stumps. Huge appeal from Indian players and up goes the finger of Mark Bensen. Ponting seems not happy at all suggesting something is wrong. And replay confirms that there was a massive inside edge before the ball struck the pads. Another horrible decision indeed.

Bensen 2 Bucknor 0

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#3 Decision # 3

Australia 1st Innings 193-6, 46.4 Overs, Bowler Ishant, Batsman Symonds (30), Umpire Bucknor

Steve Bucknor could never be easy rival, now catching up with his umpiring partner.

In the 47th over, Ishant Sharma bowls a lovely short-pitch delivery moving away enough to take an edge off Symond’s bat. All the Indian players celebrate with only two persons unmoved - Symonds and Bucknor. Snicko and audio again confirm a healthy outside edge.

Bensen 2 Bucknor 1

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#4 Decision # 4

Australia 1st Innings 238-6, 55.3 Overs, Bowler Kumble, Batsman Symonds (48), Umpire Oxenford (3rd Umpire)

So far only on-field umpires were in the competition and may be 3rd Umpire was feeling devoid of that competitive sense. Kumble bowls a lovely leg-spinner drawing Symonds into the shot, who misses the ball completely and his back foot goes into the air for just a moment.

Dhoni makes full use of the opportunity and dislodges the bails in a flash. Bucknor refers the decision to the 3rd umpire. Bruce Oxenford, despite relying on frame by frame replays, gave the wrong decision. Symonds’ foot was in the air when the bails were broken.

Bensen 2 Bucknor 1 (and Oxenford 1)

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#5 Decision # 5

Australia 1st Innings 421-7, 101.5 Overs, Bowler Harbhajan, Batsman Symonds (148), Umpire Bucknor

Harbhajan Singh bowls a delivery down the leg side which is left alone by Symonds. Dhoni quickly removes the bails and asks for stumping. Bucknor does not even go for the third umpire this time, though it is a close call.

Dhoni cannot believe it. He thinks he has got his man. Replay shows it was touch and go and in fact, no part of his foot was behind the line.

Bensen 2 Bucknor 2

Note: Symonds was out thrice on 30, 48 and 148 and went to make 162 not out, while his side recovered from a struggling 138-6 to a formidable total of 463.

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#6 Decision # 6

India 1st Innings 8-1, 6.4 Overs, Bowler Lee, Batsman Waseem Jaffer, Umpire Bensen

A yorker with some sheer pace from Brett Lee preceded by short balls stunned Waseem Jaffer who was beaten all ends up, losing his off stump; Brett Lee had given his team an early breakthrough.

However, replays showed another picture – it was a front foot no-ball, which escaped the strict scrutiny of Umpire Bensen.

Bensen 3 Bucknor 2

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#7 Decision # 7

Australia 2nd Innings 188-2, 53.4 Overs, Bowler Singh, Batsman Hussey (45), Umpire Bensen

Mike Hussey edged a ball down the leg-side from RP Singh and it made a huge noise. The catch was comfortably taken by the keeper, but not out said the umpire Mark Bensen.

Michael Hussey scored 145 not out before Australia declared their innings, and gave India a target of 333 to win the match.

Bensen 4 Bucknor 2

#8 Decision # 8

India 2nd Innings 115-4, 33.1 Overs, Bowler Symonds, Batsman Dravid (45), Umpire Bucknor

Dravid was turning out to be the Wall, having scored 38 of 102 balls, and the match was looking to peter into a draw. However, he was given out caught behind by Steve Bucknor when the ball clipped his pad, and his bat was hiding well behind his pads nowhere near the ball.

Bensen 4 Bucknor 3

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#9 Decision # 9

India 2nd Innings 115-4, 40.2 Overs, Bowler Lee, Batsman Ganguly, Umpire Bensen

Sourav edged a ball from Brett Lee which went very low to Michael Clarke standing at second slip. The ball was not neatly taken and then Michael Clarke rolled over, and the ball touched the ground.

However, Mark Bensen relying on Ricky Ponting’s (first slip) words, adjudged Ganguly out without referring the decision to the third umpire. Replays from different angles confirmed that the ball had hit the ground once before it was taken, and once after Clarke completed his dive.

At the end of the day, it was Bensen who beat Bucknor 5-3 in terms of bad calls made. Great achievement!

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The match was eventually lost by India by 122 runs when less than two overs were left to play – courtesy some superb bowling by Michael Clarke and some bad shot selection by Indian players.

However, the match shall always be remembered for its horribly decisions.

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Edited by Staff Editor