CHENNAI: The Covid pandemic has forced the re-introduction of home umpires for Test matches but
Anil Chaudhary is not helping the cause of the Indian umpires.
On Saturday during the first day of the second Test match at
Chepauk
, he committed two howlers as the third umpire that could have turned the game decisively in India's favour. While
Rohit Sharma's foot was bang on the line on 159 when wicketkeeper Ben Foakes took the bails off but Chaudhary, though felt there was a doubt when there wasn't any, and gave it a not out. Rohit, though, got out soon after.
Then, a couple of overs later, there was a huge shout for a catch at forward short leg against
Ajinkya Rahane off
Jack Leach. It went to Chaudhary again when he was given not out by the onfield umpires. Chaudhary, though, seemed to be in a tearing hurry. He only checked whether the ball had hit the bat, which it didn't, and gave Rahane not out.
SCORECARDBut Chaudhary didn't bother to look at the second replay, where the ball was hitting Rahane's gloves before going to forward short-leg's hand. The Mumbai batsman got a reprieve for Chaudhary's mistake but it didn't become too big an issue because the Mumbai player was bowled next over without adding to his total.
Back in charge
The mistake in Rahane’s case was even acknowledged by the Match Referee and the review that England lost was reinstated.
It should be noted that Chaudhary, as an onfield umpire, had given Washington Sundar not out for a caught behind in the second innings of the first Test when the youngster himself had walked off. It needed a third umpire to give him out.
"The Indian umpires should just take a little more time before taking their decisions. It's not that they are doing a bad job, but why give a chance for criticism," Indian legend
Sunil Gavaskar said in commentary.
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