Billy Bowden. Photo / Greg Bowker
Getting Billy Bowden to replace Steve Bucknor for the Perth test may have saved the cricket series between Australia and India, but the eccentric Kiwi umpire is no pin-up in Australia.
Two years ago a poll of Australia's players rated him by far the worst umpire on the
International Cricket Council's elite panel.
Almost three-quarters of Australia's 25 contracted players put him bottom of the pile.
Apart from his flamboyant gestures, which leave him open to criticism of grandstanding, Bowden has often been under scrutiny for decisions made in matches involving Australia. Two years ago he and Pakistan's Aleem Dar lost the confidence of both Australian and South African teams in their at times fractious series in Australia.
Earlier that summer, Bowden was one of the umpires cited in an official complaint made by the visiting West Indian team.
But the ICC had little choice in this matter once they had determined to sack their most experienced umpire, Steve Bucknor, to appease the Indian team and board.
Bowden was already down to share fourth test duties with Asad Rauf, and with test series in South Africa and New Zealand, and three Australians on the 10-man panel (Simon Taufel, Daryl Harper and Darrell Hair) ineligible, the choice was limited.
The ICC has already announced plans to expand the elite panel from 10 to 12, and the dramas of the past week may serve to hasten moves towards introducing technology to assist the next generation of umpires.
- AAP
