Umpire Gaffaney reviews own decision
MUMBAI: Umpires Christopher Gaffaney and Ian Gould have been as much in the limelight in the third Test as the players.
Gould was seen laughing hysterically on Day One of the Ranchi Test after India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha grabbed the ball stuck between Australia captain Steve Smith’s legs and appealed for a dismissal.
On Sunday afternoon, the fourth day of the Test, it was Gaffaney who was the focus of television cameras. The match official from New Zealand seemed to have made up his mind on an appeal for Cheteshwar Pujara’s dismissal. He began raising his finger to indicate he was out but midway through changed his mind, and started adjusting his hat.
It wasn’t the first time this weekend that an umpire appeared to change his decision. In the ongoing second Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Aleem Dar appeared to be going with bowler Mosaddek Hossain’s appeal for the dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal behind the stumps on Saturday.
However, after initially nodding his head in agreement, Dar changed his expression, indication not out.
Bangladesh utilised a DRS review to sort the confusion, but to no avail.
Last year, Kiwi umpire Billy Bowden was seen making a move similar to Gaffaney. Umpiring in a domestic T20 game in December, Bowden —famous for raising his crooked finger — began raising his hand for a halfhearted appeal for Mahela Jayawardene’s caught behind. But like Gaffaney, Bowden pretended to adjust his hat while dismissing the appeal.