SYDNEY: Australian umpire Daryl Harper, under fire from Indian players following his poor decisions in the first Test in Kingston, hit back saying West Indies team had expressed concerns of over-appealing by India.
“West Indies expressed concern over Indian players’ habit of charging at umpires when appealing which is against the spirit of the game,” said Harper.
Defending his wrong decision on Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wicket in the first Test, Harper said: “Errors in international cricket matches were as common as Indians eating beef burgers. I should never have applied the laws of cricket to Indian players.”
On his exchange of words with Dhoni, Harper said: “We did not share many pleasantries in the match.”
Harper, however, admitted that the Kingston Test was not his best of the year. Stung by severe criticism, Harper decided to step down from the third Test, which would have been his farewell match.
Recalling the wrong decisions, Harper said: “There was one LBW against Harbhajan Singh that would have been reversed had the Decision Review System been available. I also failed to detect a no ball when West Indian Bishoo’s back foot touched the side or return crease. It’s about as common as Indians eating beef burgers.”
On his decision against batsman Virat Kohli, Harper said: “Another decision that was notable involved Virat Kohli. He flashed wide of his body at a short ball that passed well outside his body down the leg side. He clearly gloved the ball and was given out. Replays could not confirm that my decision was right…and they could not confirm that my decision was wrong.”
Aussie media criticises ICC on Dhoni
The Australian media, meanwhile, has come down hard on the ICC for not taking any action against Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose criticism of umpire Daryl Harper’s performance in the first Test against West Indies led to the withdrawal of the official from the third Test.
“Indian harassment and the ICC’s inaction have seen Australian umpire Daryl Harper pull out of his farewell Test in the West Indies,” reported the Australian on Friday. (Agencies)