Cricket: Shepherd replaces dodgy Pakistani

BRISBANE - New Zealand's umpiring headaches may be alleviated slightly with the appointment of English veteran David Shepherd for Friday's second test against Australia in Adelaide.

The 84-test veteran replaces Pakistan's Aleem Dar, who delivered two contentious leg-before decisions in the first test. Experienced West Indian Steve Bucknor, who also raised eyebrows with several decisions, will remain.

The New Zealand camp hardly received the rub of the green at the Gabba - though captain Stephen Fleming pointed out that umpiring quirks were only a contributing factor to the Black Caps' pitiful second innings of 76.

However, Mathew Sinclair, Brendon McCullum and to a lesser extent Scott Styris could curse their luck as the wickets tumbled in quick succession.

Sinclair and Styris succumbed to leg-before decisions by Dar, though the television graphic suggested the ball was passing over the stumps.

Sinclair was struck on the right thigh, though Styris did not help his cause by failing to play a shot to Shane Warne.

Dar, in his 13th test, did New Zealand few favours - other than another dubious leg-before decision against Matthew Hayden to give Kyle Mills his first wicket.

Bucknor was responsible for New Zealand's biggest setback when he turned down Daniel Vettori's leg-before appeal when the explosive Adam Gilchrist was on seven.

He went on to score 126 of a match-winning partnership of 216 with Michael Clarke.

Bucknor also gave McCullum out caught at the wicket, though the ball missed the bat by 15cm after deviating on a crack.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell found an innovative way of expressing his anger without facing a fine for criticising umpires.

Asked about television's Hawkeye technology, which examines leg-before decisions, Bracewell replied: "Clearly the Hawkeye has shown to be inadequate throughout this match. Clearly technology is not up to it yet and shouldn't be used."


- NZPA