Cricket: Black Caps make noise about excessive appealing

COLOMBO - New Zealand renewed its plea for match officials to take a hard line on excessive appealing during their test cricket series with Sri Lanka after feeling the original request fell on deaf ears.

New Zealand team manager Dave Currie sought more discussions with International Cricket Council match referee Andy Pycroft on the eve of today's second and final test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

The New Zealanders thought they had secured an understanding with the Sri Lankans, match officials and Pycroft that a dim view would be taken if players went overboard pressurising the umpires.

However, it seems they did not get their message across before last week's first test in Galle.

Daniel Vettori's patience wore thin as his side were sliding to a 202-run defeat when left arm pace bowler Thilan Thushara made a leg before wicket appeal after the ball pitched outside leg stump before striking the New Zealand captain high on the thigh pad - two tell tale signs the lbw appeal is unwarranted.

Vettori's verbal altercation with Thushara prompted Australian umpire Daryl Harper to remonstrate with Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara.

After the match Pycroft opted not to censure the Sri Lankans, a decision which surprised the New Zealanders and prompted Currie to revisit the issue.

Afterwards he said he was confident the matter had been clarified.

Sangakkara, meanwhile, maintained there was "nothing intentionally aggressive about us" when claiming his team played according to the spirit of the game.

"We just play the game hard. We try and make sure what ever happens it doesn't contravene laws we play under.

"Sometimes, being human, there's instances when something slips but it's not intentional," he said.

"When that happens it's always taken in the right spirit by the opposition.

"We make sure we talk to the players concerned and they talk to each other so when you walk off the field you walk off with everything left behind and everyone in an amiable mood."

The two teams have met frequently in recent seasons and the clashes have been cordial, helped by the fact many of the opposing players are teammates in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ironically, a controversial dismissal of Muttiah Muralith during a Christchurch test in late 2006 came closest to souring relations.

Muralitharan was run out while he went to congratulate Sangakkara on making a century - the tailender had neglected to ground his bat before leaving the safety of his crease so before Brendon McCullum legitimately whipped off the bails.

The dismissal was in accordance with the rules of the game, though McCullum's actions and captain Stephen Fleming's decision not to recall Muralitharan caused some tension.

The first test in Galle was relatively trouble-free, with most of the attention focusing on Harper's mixed performance and a frustrating lack of television replay angles for the third umpire to consult.

Opener Tim McIntosh's demise for a duck in New Zealand's second innings when caught by Thilan Samaraweera at third slip underlined the lack of resources available when two angles of the catch appeared inconclusive.

Sri Lankan third umpire Asoka de Silva eventually confirmed McIntosh was caught while Samaraweera was also instantly confident the catch has been taken cleanly.

Harper and England's Nigel Llong are on duty again today when plays starts at 4.30pm(NZT).

- NZPA