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| December 19, 2005 | Monday | Ziqa’ad 16, 1426 |
Umpiring error costs sloppy Proteas dearly
PERTH, Dec 18: A crucial umpiring mistake cost South Africa dearly in the first Test against Australia as the home side took a 272-run lead with six wickets in hand at stumps on the third day. Brad Hodge, playing only his third Test, was on the cusp of his maiden century with 91 not out at the WACA Ground after being dropped early on. West Australian hero Michael Hussey was on 54 as Australia ground their way to 310-4 in the second innings.
But most attention on Sunday was focused on a decision by umpire Billy Doctrove from the West Indies.
Doctrove later apologised to South African captain Graeme Smith after making a blunder that saw Australian skipper Ricky Ponting granted an extra life while on four runs.
With Australia at 91-2, Ponting hoisted Charl Langeveldt to Jacques Rudolph at forward square leg. Rudolph took a spectacular overhead catch with his left hand, only to have Doctrove rule a no-ball.
Replays showed Langeveldt’s front foot had not overstepped the mark and Ponting went on to make 53 before being caught behind off Makhaya Ntini.
More importantly, Ponting’s presence prevented the Proteas from attacking early the Australian middle order, which they previously rated as being vulnerable.
“We would’ve exposed the middle order — crucial,” South African coach Mickey Arthur said. “Obviously the guys were a little bit annoyed, but I was very proud of the reaction.
“I don’t know how far I can go to comment on it, but apparently the umpires apologised to Graeme out in the middle once they’d seen it on the screen and that was it.
“We accepted it. It’s part and parcel of the game. I think he (Doctrove) said something like: ‘We owe you one’.”
Australia dug-in against South Africa, allowing just three wickets for the day after resuming in the morning at 38-1.
The home side’s much-maligned middle order battened down during the second session, unlike the first two days which saw the wickets of both teams fall freely.
A series of partnerships put the Australians in the box seat, with the most significant between Hodge and Hussey, who added an unbeaten 126 runs for the fifth wicket.
Hodge grafted his innings off 184 balls with seven fours, surpassing his previous best score of 60 against the West Indies.
He had also been fortunate to stay the course, when, with Australia on 153-3, he was dropped at third slip by Justin Kemp while on 13 — also off Langeveldt.
Hussey too was put down just before stumps, this time by A.B. de Villiers, remarkably, also off Langeveldt.
For Australia, there were serious injury concerns over opener Justin Langer who strained his left hamstring just before the lunch break.
After the interval he returned with fellow opener Matthew Hayden as his runner but only added four runs to his tally before chopping paceman Shaun Pollock onto his stumps for 47.
The left-hander was taken to hospital for scans on his leg, but the results were not immediately known with the second Test due to start in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 258 (R.T. Ponting 71; M. Ntini 5-64).
SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 296 (A.B. de Villiers 68, M.V. Boucher 62; B. Lee 5-93).
AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings, overnight 38-1):
J.L. Langer b Pollock 47
M.L. Hayden c Boucher b Langeveldt 20
B. Lee lbw b Langeveldt 32
R.T. Ponting c Boucher b Ntini 53
B.J. Hodge not out 91
M.E.K. Hussey not out 54
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1, NB-10) 13
TOTAL (for four wkts, 99 overs) 310
FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-86, 3-129, 4-184.
BOWLING (to-date): Pollock 26-6-60-1 (4nb); Ntini 23-6-81-1; Langeveldt 21-2-71-2 (5nb); Nel 21-2-67-0 (1w); Rudolph 5-1-20-0; Kemp 3-0-9-0 (1nb).—Agencies
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