Darrell Hair

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Darrell Bruce Hair, (born 30 September 1952 in Mudgee, New South Wales^[1]), is a former Australian Test cricket match umpire, from New South Wales, currently residing in Lincoln, Lincolnshire^[1]. He stood on the Emirates International panel of umpires from 2002 to 2003, before he, along with fellow Australian Simon Taufel, and New Zealander Billy Bowden, was appointed to the ICC Elite umpire panel. He was sacked from the panel in 2006, after an ICC board meeting discussed his actions in a Test match between Pakistan and England earlier that year. Hair has officiated in 76 test matches since his debut in 1992. ^[2]

His autobiography, entitled Decision Maker - an umpire's story was published in 1999.

Contents 1 Career 2 Controversies 2.1 First test 2.2 1993 Adelaide 2.3 Controversy Surrounding Throwing Allegations 2.4 2005 Faisalabad 2.5 2006 ball tampering controversy 2.5.1 Reaction 2.5.2 ICC hearing 2.5.3 Banned from umpiring international matches 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External links

[edit] Career

As of September 2006, Hair has stood in 76 Test matches and 124 one-day international (ODI) matches since 1991. Altogether, he has umpired 131 first-class matches in his career since 1989.

In 1994 the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a policy of appointing one umpire to each Test match from a non-participating country, and since 2002 both umpires have been appointed from non-participating nations, by the ICC. The majority of Hair’s Test matches have been played outside Australia, and did not involve Australia. His last Test match involving Australia was against South Africa at Melbourne on 26 December to 29 December 2001. Hair’s colleague was the West Indian umpire, Eddie Nicholls.

At the local level, Hair played with the Mosman club in the Sydney Grade Cricket competition, as a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

[edit] Controversies

Throughout his umpiring career, Hair has been a controversial figure. The majority of the prominent incidents have involved Asian nations, leading to accusations of bias. Rameez Raja claimed that subcontinental players universally feel that he is biased even to the extent of being racist. ^[3] South Africa have also in the past levelled accusations of bias in matches. Other former cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga have complained about bias,^[4] and have been joined by Imran Khan and Kapil Dev in criticising Hair's manner as heavy handed.^[5][6] Despite this he has been supported by fellow elite umpire Simon Taufel. ^[7]

[edit] First test

Hair's first Test match was between Australia and India at Adelaide on 25 January to 29 January 1992, won by Australia by 38 runs with second innings centuries for David Boon and Mark Taylor after a first innings of only 145, and two 5-wicket bags by Craig McDermott. Wisden (1993 ed., p1011-2) noted that the game was “marred … by controversy over lbw decisions – eight times Indians were given out, while all but two of their own appeals were rejected”. Hair's partner was Peter McConnell, standing in his last Test match.

[edit] 1993 Adelaide

The Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide on 23 January to 26 January 1993 was a fluctuating match won by the visitors by a mere one run. The victory was achieved when Australia’s No. 11, Craig McDermott, was dismissed after a 40-run partnership with Tim May had brought Australia so close to victory. Hair ruled that a short-pitched ball from Courtney Walsh had brushed McDermott’s glove and upheld the appeal for a catch, but many observers believed that McDermott had not gloved the ball. [3], [4]

[edit] Controversy Surrounding Throwing Allegations

In his only match between Australia and Sri Lanka, at Melbourne on 26 December to 30 December 1995 he called Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in three overs for throwing. Wisden (1997 ed., p.1129-30) stated “unusually, he made his judgement from the bowler’s end, and several minutes passed before the crowd realised that Muralitharan’s elbow, rather than his foot, was at fault”. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga responded by leading his team off the field. When they finally returned, Ranatunga switched Muralitharan to the other end where he was not called by either Hair or his colleague, New Zealander Steve Dunne, although Hair told the Sri Lankans at tea on the second day that he was ready to call him from the striker’s end.

Biomechanical investigation of Muralitharan's action conducted at the behest of the ICC concluded that a congenital elbow deformity created the optical illusion of throwing, thereby clearing Muralitharan of any wrongdoing under the laws of cricket. ^[8]. Comments made against Muralitharan's action in Hair's memoirs led to a panel established by the Australian Cricket Board found him guilty on two charges of bringing the game into disrepute, but decided not to punish him. ^[9] Hair did not umpire another Test match involving Sri Lanka until their tour of the West Indies in 2003. He did not stand in the 1996 World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and, in 1999, claimed to have received death threats ^[10].

[edit] 2005 Faisalabad

In November 2005, Darrell Hair referred a run-out decision concerning captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to the third umpire Nadeem Ghauri during the Faisalabad Test. Inzamam was taking evasive action, and according to the laws of cricket, a batsman cannot be run out if he leaves his ground due to evasive action.^[11] However, if Hair suspected that Inzamam had been already out of his ground when the evasive action was taken then the referral would have been justified as if that were the case the batsman would, under the law outlined above, be out.

[edit] 2006 ball tampering controversy

main article:August 2006 ball tampering controversy

On 20 August 2006, the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, Hair was involved in controversy when he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that the Pakistani team had been involved in ball tampering. They awarded five penalty runs to England and offered them a replacement ball. Play continued until the tea break, but the Pakistani players refused to take the field thereafter in protest at the decision. ^[12]

The umpires then left the field, directed the Pakistani players to resume play, and returned once more 15 minutes later. After waiting two more minutes the umpires removed the bails and declared England winners by forfeiture. This, incidentally, was the first such end to a Test match in over 1000 tests. The Pakistani team did take to the field 25 minutes later, but by then it was Hair and Doctrove themselves who refused to continue the game stating that the game had already ended with a Pakistani forfeiture the moment the bails were removed, even though both teams were willing to continue the match. The Test was abandoned following meetings between various officials from all parties, with the match awarded to England.^[13]

[edit] Reaction

The ICC, ECB and PCB later affirmed that the decision to award the match to England was in accordance with the laws of cricket.^[14]. However, it caused much debate in the cricketing world, with former cricketer Michael Atherton criticising Hair for not continuing the game.^[15] Nasser Hussain sided with Inzamam, saying that he would have done exactly what Inzamam did,^[16] while Steve Waugh backed the umpires' decision, saying "No-one is bigger than the game. The laws are there for a reason."^[17] Michael Holding described the umpires' initial penalty for ball tampering as "insensitive" and said that every law has room for flexibility.^[18], Imran Khan called Hair an "umpiring fundamentalist", and commented that "Such characters court controversy"^[19], while Wasim Akram called for Hair to be sacked.^[20].

It was revealed in an ICC news conference on 25 August that after the game, Hair had offered his resignation from the ICC Elite Umpire Panel. In an e-mail entitled "The Way Forward" addressed to Doug Cowie, the ICC's umpire manager, and with apparent reference to an earlier conversation between the two not yet made public by the ICC (see below), Hair stated he would resign from his position in return for a non-negotiable one-off payment of US$500,000 directly into Hair's bank account. This was to be kept confidential by both sides. Hair was in contract with the ICC until March 2008, and the payment was said to compensate for the loss of future earnings and retainer payments. He subsequently revoked this offer. ^[21] Hair had stated that the sum of US$500,000 was to be compensation for the four or more years he would have umpired for had this controversy not happened, which he claimed would be "the best years he had to offer international umpiring". Hair had previously suggested, however, in an April 2006 interview that he might give up umpiring at the end of the World Cup saying "I'm not so sure that after another 12 months I'll have the passion to keep enjoying it." ^[22]. In the press conference, the ICC's chairman Malcolm Speed did not offer any assurances about Hair's future.^[23]

On 27 August, Hair responded to the release of the e-mails by stating that the ICC had been in negotiations with him prior to him sending them.^[24] He was quoted as saying: ""During an extended conversation with Mr Cowie, I was invited to make a written offer. The figure in the e-mail correspondence was in line with those canvassed with the ICC." The ICC however denied they had invited a claim.^{[25] [26]} In a press conference on 28 September 2006 Umpire Hair reiterated that he never considered retirement.^[27]

[edit] ICC hearing

On September 28, the ICC match refree Ranjan Madugalle chairing the hearing on Inzamam's case acquitted him of the ball tampering charge stating "Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering (it is an allegation of cheating), I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there is sufficiently cogent evidence that the fielding team had taken action likely to interfere with the condition of the ball" in his official report ^[28], but banned him for four one day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.^[29][30] Each ICC-appointed match official, Mr Hair, Mr Doctrove, Mr Jesty, Mr Cowie, Mr Procter, and Peter Hartley, was of the opinion that markings on the ball indicated tampering. ^[31] However Boycott, testifying before the panel stated "That's a good ball, not just a playable ball."^[32]. Another witness, Simon Hughes the TV analyst, testified that Hair was "guessing", and the ball was in "pretty good condition", when he examined it.^[33] After the hearing in a press conference, Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan revealed that his board had not ruled out calling for charges of bringing the game into disrepute against Hair.^[34] At a press conference in the aftermatch of the hearing the ICC announced that Hair would not be umpiring at the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy because of security concerns.^[35] The BCCI stated that they were bothered by the controversy surrounding Hair rather than any security issues^[36][37] but Malcolm Speed wrote that these had been raised by independent advisors.^[38]

[edit] Banned from umpiring international matches

On November 4, 2006, Hair was banned from officiating in international matches by the ICC following a two-day meeting held by the ICC. The announcement was made by ICC President, Percy Sonn in Mumbai, India, in a press conference.^[39]

"He shall not be allowed to officiate in any future international games until the end of this contract [which ends in March 2008]" Percy Sonn, ICC President ^[39]

Both Malcolm Speed, CEO of the ICC, and Sonn, stated that although Hair has been stood down, there is "no issue" with the result of the Oval Test match, which Pakistan forfeited.^[39] The decision was met with praise from the Pakistani board, who had previously called for Hair to be sacked.^[40] It was widely rumoured on November 3, 2006, that Hair was going to be banned, after a "reliable source" leaked information to an Indian television network.^[39] The unnamed source said that 10 test playing nations voted on whether Hair should be allowed to continue, with the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Bangladesh all voting for Hair to be removed, while England, Australia and New Zealand supported him.^[39] The voting at the decision to ban Hair was seen by some to reflect the perception of Hair in different countries.^[41] Most Asian commentators welcomed the move. Javed Miandad said that such a move by ICC sets an example that meant "all other umpires will be under pressure to take the right decisions"^[42] and Bangladesh Captain Habibul Bashar also supported the decision.^[43] The former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga welcomed the decision to ban Hair, commenting that "Hair had a prejudice against Asian teams. I am happy that he is finally out. The decision will do good to future cricket." ^[44].

The majority of criticism against the decision to sack Hair has come from his home country of Australia. Ricky Ponting said he was surprised by the ICC's move to ban Hair^[45] and Cricket Australia demanded the ICC explain the reasons for Hair being stood down. ^[46]. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said "Umpires need to have confidence in the system - that they are supported by best-practice administration and processes."^[47] The Australian media has also been critical of the decision. News Corps Robert Craddock said: "Having seen how brutally Hair was abandoned after his tough call, only a brave or foolish umpire would be courageous enough to throw himself into the lion's den."^[48]

Darrell Hair has not ruled out taking legal action after the decision. ^[49] Billy Doctrove, the other umpire during the Oval Test, is unaffected by the ICC's ban on Hair,^[39] though he was overlooked for the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.^[50]

In the aftermath of the Oval incident Hair was voted Umpire of the Season in a poll carried out by The Wisden Cricketer, with more than a third of the votes. ^[51] A leaked ICC report showed that immediately before the Oval incident, Hair was ranked the second-best umpire in the world overall and number one in terms of decision-making statistics ^[52]

[edit] See also

• Australian Test cricket umpires
• List of Test umpires

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

• Hair, Darrell (1998) Decision Maker: An Umpire's Story Random House, Australia. ISBN 0091837316

[edit] External links

• Player Profile: Darrell Hair from Cricinfo
• Cricket Archive
• ICC Umpires and Referees