Mike Denness and Indian cricket team incident

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Mike Denness found 6 Indians (more than 50% of the team) guilty of various offenses during a Test Match between India and South Africa sparking protests from the Indians. As a result of the skirmish between the officials, the subsequent match was deemed 'unofficial' by ICC and Virender Sehwag was made to serve his one test-match ban.

Contents

[edit] Background

The second test match between India and South Africa at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth has become infamous in Indian cricket history because of the unprecendented actions by the match referee to hand punishments to 6 Indian players:[1]

  • Sachin Tendulkar (Ball tampering charges): 1 Test Match suspended ban[2]
  • Virender Sehwag (excessive appealing): 1 Test Match ban
  • Sourav Ganguly (inability in controlling team player's behaviour): 1 Test Match and 2 ODI matches ban Suspended ban
  • Harbhajan Singh (excessive appealing): 1 Test Match suspended ban
  • Shiv Sundar Das (excessive appealing): 1 Test Match suspended ban
  • Deep Dasgupta (excessive appealing): 1 Test Match suspended ban

The sentence handed was unprecedented in magnitude in international cricket and match referee did not do his cause any good by refusing to speak in a press conference[3] thus infuriating an already fiery Indian cricket establishment. If accusing their demi-god Sachin of ball tampering was not enough, handing bans to 5 other players - a move never heard of, in test cricket, precipitated an international cricketing,[4] political[5] and administrative[6] crisis.

[edit] "Unofficial" Test and Sehwag's ban

The Indian cricket establishment threatened to call off the tour unless Mike Denness was removed as match referee from the third test match. ICC backed Mike Denness[7] and the South African board backed the Indian cricket establishment[8] and did not allow Mike Denness to enter the stadium[9] on the first day of the third test match. ICC declared that the match 'unofficial' and 'friendly five day match'[10] and the series was officially declared as a 2 match series and South Africa as 1-0 winners.

ICC upheld the ban on Virender Sehwag for the subsequent test match.[11] The subsequent England tour to India was placed in jeopardy when India picked Sehwag in the test squad[12]. Subsequent to this development, ICC issued a warning that any match with Sehwag in the cricket team will not be considered an 'official' test match till Sehwag sits out of a Test Match[13]. After negotiations with ECB and ICC and in general interest of cricket, Sehwag was dropped from the team for the first test against England[14]. What started out as an on-the field affair involving players blew into an international crisis amongst officials.

[edit] Post Incident Events

After the infamous series, Mike Denness served as Match Referee in only 2 Test matches and 3 ODI matches - as part of the WI series against Pak in Stadium between Jan/Feb 2002

ICC Disputes Resolution Committee hearing headed by Michael Beloff QC (the then Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission) was scheduled to hear the case on 6th and 7th June 2002. However the hearing was postponed, a week before the scheduled date due to ill-health and surgery plans of Mike Denness.[15]

The Resolution Committee never met to decide on the merits of the cases of Mike Denness and Indian cricket team as BCCI decided to forgo the case after Mike Denness' heart surgery.[16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fines and bans handed down to Indian players. Cricinfo (2001-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  2. ^ Tendulkar handed suspended ban from Test cricket. Cricinfo (2001-11-19). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  3. ^ No enlightment from Denness at farcical press conference. Cricinfo (2001-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  4. ^ Former cricketers express anger at Denness' decision. Cricinfo (2001-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  5. ^ Ball tampering controversy aired in Indian parliament. Cricinfo (2001-11-22). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  6. ^ BCCI call for Denness's removal. Cricinfo (2001-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  7. ^ ICC rules out replacing Denness for final Test. Cricinfo (2001-11-21). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  8. ^ South Africa will back India in Denness affair. Cricinfo (2001-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  9. ^ UCBSA issues statement regarding third Castle Lager/MTN Test. Cricinfo (2001-11-22). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  10. ^ ICC sets out latest position regarding South Africa v India. Cricinfo (2001-11-23). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  11. ^ Centurion Match Is Not a Test and Sehwag Ban Will Stand, Says ICC. Cricinfo (2001-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  12. ^ India name Sehwag in 14-member squad for Mohali Test. Cricinfo (2001-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  13. ^ ICC sets out its position on 1st Test at Mohali. Cricinfo (2001-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  14. ^ Mohali Test will go ahead after BCCI agree to exclude Sehwag. Cricinfo (2001-11-30). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  15. ^ ICC disputes resolution Committee deferred. Cricinfo (2002-05-31). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  16. ^ India to 'forget' Mike Denness affair. Cricinfo (2003-06-22). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
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