The incredible catch that wasn't a catch. Martin Snedden and many other Black Caps have been denied by umpires on Aussie turf. Photo / Supplied
The incredible catch that wasn't a catch. Martin Snedden and many other Black Caps have been denied by umpires on Aussie turf. Photo / Supplied
Mob rule. Hollering crowds. Hometown decisions. No, not Hamilton as the Australian media might claim. We're talking about the New Zealand cricket team's run of awful luck in Australia over the years. Here are just a few samples.
1) Martin Snedden took a stunning outfield catch running forwardduring the infamous "underarm" one day match at Melbourne in 1981, except it wasn't. Snedden's word was good enough for Richie Benaud, the king of commentators. The great man said: "There's no question in my mind...that's one of the best catches I've ever seen in my life." But batsman Greg Chappell, the Aussie captain, stood his ground refusing to take Snedden's word. Lo and behold, a couple of Aussie umpires told Chappell to bat on.
2) Melbourne again, 1987. Danny Morrison trapped Craig McDermott in front to win the test, except he didn't. Aussie umpire Dick French kept Australia in the game by inexplicably turning down the lbw appeal, and they survived the final over to save the test.
3) The same 1987 match in Melbourne. And Dick French, again. Greg Dyer dropped a catch, although he didn't. Wicketkeeper Dyer positioned himself beautifully for advent of YouTube, claiming a legside catch from the bat of Andrew Jones when the ball clearly bounced on the ground. Umpire Tony Crafter checked with umpire French, and Jones was sent packing. Commentator Tony Greig said: "Wicket keeper Dyer has claimed a catch which doesn't look to me as if it was is one." Spot on.
4) In 2001, New Zealand were denied a famous and rare series victory in Australia. The great Steve Waugh helped save the day in Perth but was given a clear assist by Zimbabwe umpire Ian Robinson when a big nick off Daniel Vettori's bowling found a deaf spot. Kiwi batsman Craig McMillan said: "...we were in the middle of the pitch celebrating. You could hear it three rows back and it was given not out." Crowd noise, alright.
5) Perth, 2009. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin knocks the bails off with his gloves which were illegally in front of the stumps anyway. Haddin let Neil Broom leave the field having been allegedly bowled. Captain Vettori reckoned: "I think you saw from Haddin's reaction that he knew something was wrong so he probably should have made more noise about it."
6) Adelaide this time, last year. English umpire Nigel Llong lived up to his name, taking forever to make the wrong decisions in ruling Nathan Lyon not out despite hot spot evidence to the contrary. Lyon was even walking off but had second thoughts while TV umpire Llong was doing his thinking, thinking, thinking. Llong told the men in the middle: "There's a mark on a bat, but it could come from anywhere." But could a decision like that be made anywhere else? Maybe, but Australia have got a lot of good decisions in Australia over the years.
