Boycott: Asad Rauf Chickened out by not giving Pietersen out on 49

[spiron]

...The only blot on the day was the poor decision by the square leg umpire, Asad Rauf, when he should have given Pietersen out caught at leg slip when he was on 49.

He had an uninterrupted clear view from 20 yards away and chickened out of making the correct decision. Anybody who works in television will tell you that low catches will always look as if the ball has bounced before being caught.

Batsmen throughout the game know that if a low catch is referred to a television umpire there is every chance they will get away with it. I don’t blame the batsman for standing. I blame the umpire for not having the courage of his convictions and making the decision without television

<<Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/geoffreyboycott/8535938/Boycott-at-the-Test-If-ball-swings-Anderson-will-run-riot.html)>>


I didnt see the incident, but found it odd that Geoffrey be using such language.

[cricketfanfirst]

I think it is unfair to point out Asad Rauf for this...This looked a bit difficult for the leg umpire to give out and even the third umpire took some time for this and after several replays gave the benefit of doubt to the batsmen. Though some commentators were saying that should have been given out by third umpire but to me it looked difficult to give out as there was some element of doubt in it.

[Blitz]

What a load of crap.

So its the fault of the umpire, who had to watch it live at full speed, from like 30 yards away.

.....and not the 3rd umpire who had slow mo and 1000 angles?

[Rightarmfast]

It did look out to me though. And not because I am an Indian. However, I would not blame the umpire or the 3rd umpire. Happens !

But he was definitely out as Dravid's fingers were below the ball and as per the rule, that is out !

[James]

Inconclusive thus not out.

[Robert]

But he was definitely out as Dravid's fingers were below the ball and as per the rule, that is out !

I have watched it ten times and I don't think he was out. There was no way to tell if Dravid had got any fingers under the ball when it hit the deck.

[cricketpassion]

It was not out , you can clearly see the gap between Dravid's right hand and the ball , Left hand was more close to ball but wsnt under the ball .and you can clrealy see the ball touching the grass.

[Rightarmfast]

It was not out , you can clearly see the gap between Dravid's right hand and the ball , Left hand was more close to ball but wsnt under the ball .and you can clrealy see the ball touching the grass.

Which television do you have ?:)

[cricketpassion]

Which television do you have ?:)

I watched on sky .If you see clearly from neutral eyes .Not by indian eyes

[WNC]

Haha, what's Boycott been smoking? Such decisions almost always go to the third umpires. :facepalm:

[Rightarmfast]

I watched at sky .If you see clearly from neutral eyes .Not by indian eyes

Haha..Thats a good answer :)... Still to see everything so clearly, u must have really good 'neutral eyes' or a good tv set :) Chill mate !

[Saqs]

What a ridiculous statement by Boycott.

Chickened out?

[Rightarmfast]

Just as some were questioning if the umps would have the stomach to give Tendu out in the 90's or would chicken out , as per Boycott it already happened.. but only for Pietersen, not Tendu :)...Poetic justice..:) But alas, bad for India !

[Poison]

Looked clearly not out to me, Dravid's right hand slipped away from the ball and the ball was definitely in contact with the ground.

[cricketfanfirst]

I heard that Michael Vaughan and Henry Blofled declared that it was out...But, as I said earlier, it looked a difficult decision to give that out as there was an element of doubt and benefit should always go to the batsman.

[dhump]

and if was given out lots of critics were angry on asad for not referring to third umpire.

I though it was not out.

[MMHS]

Personally, I don't think he was out. Even had Rahul's finger (s) were under the ball, the fingers were spread-out & most likely the ball had touched the ground. Whatever, it was inconclusive to me, even after several replays & we got a clear view, straight line to the ball's path. I don't think Asad Rauf had a clear visibility from his position at Squire Leg. Rahul was at around 45 degree clockwise from Asad's straight line of view & I am sure the point of catching was hidden by a forward diving Rahul's body & arm.

Sir Geoffry Boycott often doesn't do justice to his pedigree with loose comments (Or acts). First of all it was not Asad's call, he was the Leg Umpire. The main umpire couldn't give a decision, & asked for a confirmation to Asad. Now, I can't remember ever the Leg Umpire to give any decision or over rule any verdict on disputed catches, which is not confirmed by the Main Umpire. Actually, it's a time wasting, the main umpire should go directly to TV Umpire, if he is not sure. Asad did exactly what any other Umpire would have done - referring to 3rd umpire, when the option was there to avail. Even, had the 3rd Umpire not been available, it's always the main Umpire to make the final call.

Now, such a crook Sir Geoffry that, he caught this Pakistani Umpire off guard. Had Asad given KP out, this Yorkshire man would have been the first man to make a mockery of him. He knows that, being Pakistani, Asad 'll not get any media support (Or actually, nobody 'll counter question him, to explain how Asad could have given confirmed verdict & would have exposed Boycott, such a clown that he often sounds). Few years back, when Mike Dennese gave some sort of punishments to 6 Indian players for "Over Appealing" against South Africa, I can remember, what Shasrty & gang did to him in press conference. India decided not to play with Dennese being Match Referee, which was accepted by knee bent UCBSA & the 3rd Test became an un-official Test for ICC not recognizing it without their assigned Match Referee. That was last time Mr. Dennese, officiated any match involving India, & probably was his last as a Match Referee.

I can guarantee, had Boycott said the same things for similar situation with an Indian Umpire, we would have heard last of his voice by the 2nd day of this Test, in this Series. & he wouldn't have made any such comments with an Aussie, Kiwi or Afrikaners been the Umpire (Sorry, but yes, he is a raciest).

[DeadlyVenom]

Any time these catches get referred to the TV umpire its a very very high chance your going to be given not out. Its just impossible to see.

[IMMY69]

Rauf had no option. Had he given it out and replays suggested otherwise then he would have been castigated for not refering it. Even if he was 90pct sure that catch had been taken, he hreally had no choice but to go to the TV replays.

If 'referals' for catches are there then most umpires will refer to it because it must be deemed that tv technology is correct otherwise why have referals for catches in the first place??

You simply cannot blame the umpire for this.

[AlizeeFan]

Boycott...

Everything happens in what less than 1 second. What if umpire gives out and it turns be not out and if that batting collapsed after that wicket?

What would have Mr. Boycott said about the umpire? Everyone would have probably ridiculed him for whole series for not referring to the third umpire.

Unfair criticism from Boycott.

I remember one instance when David Shepherd gave a close run-out on his own in a one day game. Commies were saying that he shouldn't have taken chances and referred to the third umpire.

And seriously chickened out? Didn't he get some better words?

[Down2Earth]

boycott's really making some stupid comments recently, maybe age is finally catching up with him

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Time for an old favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG5Bk93RMks&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Looney]

If Rauf had the best view , then his decision must be correct . Where was Boycott watching this and how does he know 100% it was out ?

[fareedymohammad]

this is very stupid Dravid didnt even celebrate bcz himself he was unsure

[Aly]

They retire you from all kinds of jobs after a certain age for a reason

It's high time that the broadcasters around the world adopted the same policy when It comes to the commentators as well
..otherwise get ready to experience a live death on t.v in the form of either boycott or gavaskar any time :P

[insaftak]

I don't know what Boycott is smoking. No way that could be given out.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16258&stc=1&d=1311334798

[AlizeeFan]

If Rauf had the best view , then his decision must be correct . Where was Boycott watching this and how does he know 100% it was out ?

Exactly. Boycott is saying that Rauf was in good position and also blaming him by sitting in comm box.

Boycott is very old now.

[asifp]

Boycott working to an IPL contract

[AlizeeFan]

Time for an old favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG5Bk93RMks&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This one is another interesting video

I had a better technique than Gavaskar: Geoffrey Boycott (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIaUc5qE54k&feature=related)

:asif

[Taurus]

I actually spent a few minutes going over this catch when I watched the highlights this morning, and I have to say that my overall impression was that, based on the reaction of the fielders and the inconclusive nature of the footage, it wasn't out. It's easy for commentators to talk nonsense and then to dismiss the effect of a camera as 'foreshortening', but I just don't see what else an umpire can reasonably do. If a catch is in doubt, then we cannot really call it a catch, can we? Pietersen was as not out as a batsman can be. There are always fine lines in cricket, in lbws, in catches, in nicks that carry or are not picked up, and this is, at best, no different to those things. In truth I think it's a lot different, there's a reasonable amount of fair evidence to suggest that not out was the right decision, irrespective of whether it was the correct decision.

[Arcturus]

Boycott is going senile. That didnt look out to me in replays and Rauf did the right thing to refer it to 3rd ump

[DOOSRA95]

Boycott is a Idiot talks Rubbish

[attock]

I wonder what would he have said, if he had given him out......................

[Impala_KaifTamasha]

Sometimes Boycott goes over the top and just ends up talking sh!t

[Ryankhan]

I don't know what Boycott is smoking. No way that could be given out.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16258&stc=1&d=1311334798

Boycott ne peeeeeeeee raki hai. ye pic dekhne ke baad koi nahi keh sakta ke ye out hai, ofcourse its not out. awsome innings by Pietersen

[dannydan_56]

it was a tentative decision for the third umpire but at the end of the day the right decision was made

[Mobashir]

I was really surprised by the commentators too who said that look out! It was CLEARLY not out.

[NO 1 AFRIDI FAN]

Rauf did the right thing, it was never going to be given out.