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** Official ** Sri Lanka in New Zealand tour
- Thread starter nookie_lk
- Start date
NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Cricket: Black Caps get rub of the green
09.04.05
by Richard Boock
Steve Bucknor and Lady Luck conspired to save New Zealand's skin at McLean Park yesterday after Sri Lanka threatened to steal the first test on the wire.
On a day in which New Zealand's late-match temperament was again called into question, Sri Lankan sling-king Lasith Malinga gave his side an unlikely shot at victory, only to be confounded by some glaring lapses from Bucknor.
At 58 years and 319 days, one of the oldest umpires on the International Cricket Council's elite panel, Bucknor handed New Zealand two crucial pieces of good fortune yesterday as Sri Lanka closed in for the kill.
Having already mistakenly given Hamish Marshall not out on the fourth evening, the genial Bucknor gave Lou Vincent and Kyle Mills scarcely-believable reprieves yesterday afternoon, allowing New Zealand to stumble through to safety.
Resuming at 64 for two, New Zealand were again tormented by Malinga's haymakers and slumped to 148 for seven at lunch, before an injured Stephen Fleming and Mills helped push the eventual total through to 238 - an overall lead of 302.
Sri Lankan openers Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya faced just 1.3 overs in reply before accepting the umpires' offer of the light, leaving the series squared at 0-0 as the teams headed for Wellington.
Billed as a likely yawn-fest, the final day exploded into life courtesy of the unusual Malinga, who - after snaring four wickets in the first innings - claimed his first five-wicket bag in the second and was later named man of the match.
Malinga deceived night watchman Paul Wiseman early in the piece and James Franklin on the luncheon gong, and wrapped up the innings before tea when he ended a brave innings from Fleming.
The Sri Lankan attack took full advantage of New Zealand's second-innings anxiety, Jayasuriya chipping out James Marshall and Brendon McCullum, and Upul Chandana ending the determined resistance of Lou Vincent.
However, the home side received the rub of the green twice from Bucknor; the first when he demurred over a disputed catch off Vincent, and the second when he somehow missed a huge edge from Mills off the bowling of Malinga.
Vincent was on 37 when he struck a ball into the covers, where Tillakaratne Dilshan dived forward to take what looked like a catch in full view of Bucknor.
But with Vincent standing his ground, the veteran umpire opted to have the catch scrutinised by third official Doug Cowie and the slow-motion replays proved inconclusive.
Vincent carried on to post his eighth test half-century before yorking himself off Chandana, leaving Fleming and a fortunate Mills to drag the side to safety.
It was the proverbial captain's knock from Fleming, who was forced to retire hurt on six with a bruised left hand, but returned after the fall of the seventh wicket. However, more worrying would have been the manner in which his side struggled through the first two sessions yesterday.
New Zealand will take an unchanged squad to Wellington for the second test, starting on Monday.
Cricket: Black Caps get rub of the green
09.04.05
by Richard Boock
Steve Bucknor and Lady Luck conspired to save New Zealand's skin at McLean Park yesterday after Sri Lanka threatened to steal the first test on the wire.
On a day in which New Zealand's late-match temperament was again called into question, Sri Lankan sling-king Lasith Malinga gave his side an unlikely shot at victory, only to be confounded by some glaring lapses from Bucknor.
At 58 years and 319 days, one of the oldest umpires on the International Cricket Council's elite panel, Bucknor handed New Zealand two crucial pieces of good fortune yesterday as Sri Lanka closed in for the kill.
Having already mistakenly given Hamish Marshall not out on the fourth evening, the genial Bucknor gave Lou Vincent and Kyle Mills scarcely-believable reprieves yesterday afternoon, allowing New Zealand to stumble through to safety.
Resuming at 64 for two, New Zealand were again tormented by Malinga's haymakers and slumped to 148 for seven at lunch, before an injured Stephen Fleming and Mills helped push the eventual total through to 238 - an overall lead of 302.
Sri Lankan openers Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya faced just 1.3 overs in reply before accepting the umpires' offer of the light, leaving the series squared at 0-0 as the teams headed for Wellington.
Billed as a likely yawn-fest, the final day exploded into life courtesy of the unusual Malinga, who - after snaring four wickets in the first innings - claimed his first five-wicket bag in the second and was later named man of the match.
Malinga deceived night watchman Paul Wiseman early in the piece and James Franklin on the luncheon gong, and wrapped up the innings before tea when he ended a brave innings from Fleming.
The Sri Lankan attack took full advantage of New Zealand's second-innings anxiety, Jayasuriya chipping out James Marshall and Brendon McCullum, and Upul Chandana ending the determined resistance of Lou Vincent.
However, the home side received the rub of the green twice from Bucknor; the first when he demurred over a disputed catch off Vincent, and the second when he somehow missed a huge edge from Mills off the bowling of Malinga.
Vincent was on 37 when he struck a ball into the covers, where Tillakaratne Dilshan dived forward to take what looked like a catch in full view of Bucknor.
But with Vincent standing his ground, the veteran umpire opted to have the catch scrutinised by third official Doug Cowie and the slow-motion replays proved inconclusive.
Vincent carried on to post his eighth test half-century before yorking himself off Chandana, leaving Fleming and a fortunate Mills to drag the side to safety.
It was the proverbial captain's knock from Fleming, who was forced to retire hurt on six with a bruised left hand, but returned after the fall of the seventh wicket. However, more worrying would have been the manner in which his side struggled through the first two sessions yesterday.
New Zealand will take an unchanged squad to Wellington for the second test, starting on Monday.
Last edited:
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Well i guess Test averages of 19/20 and 27 don't mean anything to u. Even if you take out Chandana's 92 aganist Zimbabwe he still averages 23.75. You compare this to the Australia and England combination:marc71178 said:
Warne (16) and Gillespie (16)
Giles (21) and Hoggard (9)
You said their on par with the England duo cus of their recent performances so lets just look at then (last 2 years, since April 2003):
Giles (26) and Hoggard (12)
Warne (13) and Gillespie (19)
Vaas (28) and Chandana (26)
So how does this make the England combination on par with the Lankans and so much worse then the Aussie.
The Maestro
School Boy/Girl Captain
Oh fer chrissakes just when I was starting to qute like ol Faaaaap he trots out this bollix again.FaaipDeOiad said:
How you can deny Aust has had an ugly run of decisions in their favour is beyond me. And dont gimme that "the aussies are so good they create more chances" smokescreen eitherI cant really comment on the Bucknor thing
The Maestro
School Boy/Girl Captain
WTF Boock is such an idiot at times, hes getting as bad as Peter Jessup (note this is not a go at you Chupmunk)chipmonk said:
If Bucknow thought the Vincent catch was inconclusive with his bare eyes and then the slo mos didnt disagree then how is that a mistake again?
The Marshall decisions cancelled each other out.....what disadvantage to SL there?
and correct me if Im wrong (didnt see it) ....but wasnt the Mills edge well after the game was destined for a draw anyway?
username1234
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
oh yeah australia always get's the short end of the stick.
Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2004-05
The wrong trousers
Cricinfo staff
April 8, 2005
Stephen Fleming has requested that the umpires standing in the second Test against Sri Lanka, in Wellington, (starting Monday) remove their black trousers because the New Zealand batsmen were finding it almost impossible to pick up the ball from Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan swing bowler, who delivers the ball from in front of the umpire.
Malinga, 21, was the most impressive Sri Lankan bowler in the drawn first Test at Napier, taking a career-best 5 for 80 in the second innings, and match figures of 9 for 210. Seven of his wickets were either bowled or lbw, as the Kiwi's continually struggled to pick up his deliveries.
Fleming told the AFP news agency: ""We can't see him. When it's a bit overcast and late in the evening, you saw last night when Hamish (Marshall) who's in great form, just couldn't see the ball. We asked the umpires to change the colour of their trousers, there's a period there when he's delivering when it gets lost in the trousers."
One the first day in Napier Steve Bucknor and Darrell Hair were asked to remove their dark ties and on the last day Fleming asked Bucknor to put a white jumper around his waist to act as mini sightscreen. Fleming said: "I'm not sure if the rules are but we've asked if they can change (to light coloured trousers). It's a factor, hence putting the sweater in front of the trousers."
But John Dyson, the Sri Lanka coach, hopes that Malinga continues to cause problems. "He was chosen because he does bowl quickly, he's a little bit unorthodox and guys have trouble picking him up. We've seen it in the middle with Australia, South Africa and now New Zealand, he is very difficult to pick up, hopefully more difficult in Wellington."
© Cricinfo
The wrong trousers
Cricinfo staff
April 8, 2005
Stephen Fleming has requested that the umpires standing in the second Test against Sri Lanka, in Wellington, (starting Monday) remove their black trousers because the New Zealand batsmen were finding it almost impossible to pick up the ball from Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan swing bowler, who delivers the ball from in front of the umpire.
Malinga, 21, was the most impressive Sri Lankan bowler in the drawn first Test at Napier, taking a career-best 5 for 80 in the second innings, and match figures of 9 for 210. Seven of his wickets were either bowled or lbw, as the Kiwi's continually struggled to pick up his deliveries.
Fleming told the AFP news agency: ""We can't see him. When it's a bit overcast and late in the evening, you saw last night when Hamish (Marshall) who's in great form, just couldn't see the ball. We asked the umpires to change the colour of their trousers, there's a period there when he's delivering when it gets lost in the trousers."
One the first day in Napier Steve Bucknor and Darrell Hair were asked to remove their dark ties and on the last day Fleming asked Bucknor to put a white jumper around his waist to act as mini sightscreen. Fleming said: "I'm not sure if the rules are but we've asked if they can change (to light coloured trousers). It's a factor, hence putting the sweater in front of the trousers."
But John Dyson, the Sri Lanka coach, hopes that Malinga continues to cause problems. "He was chosen because he does bowl quickly, he's a little bit unorthodox and guys have trouble picking him up. We've seen it in the middle with Australia, South Africa and now New Zealand, he is very difficult to pick up, hopefully more difficult in Wellington."
© Cricinfo
