DURBAN, Dec 28: Umpire Mark Benson was admitted to the intensive care unit of a Durban hospital after suffering heart palpitations while standing in the second Test between South Africa and India on Thursday.

Benson, 48, left the field one ball into the fourth over of the third day and was replaced by TV umpire Ian Howell of South Africa.

A Cricket South Africa spokesman said Benson had been taken to hospital for an ECG as a precautionary measure.

He said later that Benson had been admitted to the intensive care unit of the St Augustine's hospital and would be kept overnight for observation.

Benson, a former Kent opening batsman who played in one Test for England, was appointed to the International Cricket Council's elite panel in April 2006.

He was standing in his 12th Test match.—AFP