10 most controversial umpiring decisions of all time
Of all jobs, umpiring is arguably the toughest on a cricket field. Cricket isn't a slow sport and hence the action takes play quickly leaving the umpire little time to make his judgment.
Also unlike other sports, cricket matches stretch for a long duration and it is challenging for a human to keep his/her concentration intact. Hence, umpiring mistakes are common and an occasional error is digested without any fuzz by the players and the spectators.
But at several times the enormity of the errors committed by umpires has shocked the cricket world. On various occasions, umpires made decisions that were beyond logic and sense.
Also, some decisions ended up altering the fate of the contest, and hence were scrutinized immensely.
Let us take a look at ten such decisions that were controversial and became a talking point in cricket.
#10. Stuart Broad given not-out- vs Australia, 2013, at Nottingham
Australia enjoyed an upper hand in the first Ashes Test of 2013 courtesy of an effective first-inning lead and England's batting collapse in the second innings added to their dominance.
Ian Bell and Stuart Broad tried arresting the damage and stitched a vital partnership. Just when Broad looked set, Ashton Agar, Australia's debutant spun a delivery enough to trouble Broad.
The English batsman tried cutting the ball but could only find an edge which kissed the wicket-keeper's gloves and settled into the hands of Michael Clarke, standing at first slip.
All Australian players started celebrations as they had made the decisive break-through but to their utter disappointment, the umpire Aleem Dar was unmoved.
Dar failed to see the edge which was clearly visible and Broad was lucky to get a reprieve. This decision cost Australia dearly as the left-hander added 28 more runs before departing and the visitors lost the match by 14 runs.