TONY HILL OF NZ- IS HE THE BEST OR WORST CRICKET UMPIRE?
Posted on October 22nd, 2011
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
Tony Hill of New ZealandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ became an ICC panel umpire in 1998 without any backgroundƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in first-class cricket. Now TonyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at the age of 61, isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the elite panel of umpires of the ICC.
During past few years, Tony has made several wrong umpiring decisions. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In matches between EnglandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and Bangladesh ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as Pakistan and EnglandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his controversial decisionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were glaring.
In the current series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan he has made few blunders, always to the disadvantage of the Sri Lankan team.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are not taking anything way from the great innings of Taufeeq Umar who had scored 236 runs with a great degree of concentration and display of stamina.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But after Umar has reached his century,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he momentarilyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lost concentration and gave a fat inside edge to the wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. In spite of vigorous appeal by the Sri Lankan Team, Tony HillƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ gave a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”not outƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ decision.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When asked, his answer was that he did not hear any noise.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the absence of DRS system for the series, Tony Hill could have referred to the third umpire for clarification on his own.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The bowler Chanaka Welagedera was deeply disappointed but behaved wellƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the field at that time, within the rules of the game.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This decision has cost an additional 130 runs for Sri Lanka from UmarƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ innings alone.
To make matters worse,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s second ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ innings, Tharanga Paranavitana was adjudged lbw for the first ball by the umpire Tony Hill.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The video, replays clearly shows the ball pitched leg and angled away, the ball actually nipped away starting to swing, the umpire inadvertently decided against the batsman, giving Umar Gul the first wicket in the second innings. Sadly enough, Sri Lanka opened the scorecard in the second innings with a Zero,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with the compliments of the umpire.
As a Buddhist, IƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pray for Tony Hill that during the rest of the matches he will gain ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”samma ditthiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, the right view, the right thought, the right speech, the right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration!
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October 22nd, 2011 at 4:02 pm
As a Buddhist, I wish Tony Hill attain Nibbana, right now!
October 22nd, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Once the ICC appoints the likes of Tony Hill to the elite panel of Test Umpires the onus is on them to answer for the glaring errors he has made. At 61 he does not seem to possess all his faculties in keeping with the requirements of the job i.e clear unimpeded perception relative to some of his calls, vision, sharp hearing , a complete awareness of trajectories, direction and conviction about the correct application of the law as he at times gets away with deplorable decisions where the DRS seems a huge loss to those victimised consequently!
There were good umpires like Asoka de Silva who were victimised and debunked from the elite panel for lesser mistakes than Hill and about time the ICC reconsiderd his appointment to Test level and sent him to some re-hab program where he is made aware of how glaring his errors at times are!
October 22nd, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Once the ICC appoints the likes of Tony Hill to the elite panel of Test Umpires the onus is on them to answer for the glaring errors he has made throught his tenure. At 61 he does not seem to possess all his faculties in keeping with the requirements of the job i.e clear unimpeded perception relative to some of his calls, vision, sharp hearing , a complete awareness of trajectories, direction and conviction about the correct application of the law as he at times gets away with deplorable decisions where the DRS seems a huge loss to those victimised consequently!
There were good umpires like Asoka de Silva and Steve Bucknor who were victimised and debunked from the elite panel for lesser mistakes than Hill and about time the ICC reconsiderd his appointment to Test level and sent him to some re-hab program where he is made aware of how glaring his errors at times are! They can cost the game relative to his decisions for the team that at times seems a likely victor.
October 22nd, 2011 at 8:20 pm
As a Buddhist, I wish Tony Hill attain Nibbana, right now!
ditto
Tony Hill Hora Umpire.
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:37 am
The answer is simple. If the man has been found to be not good enough, let him be dropped. Demoting itself will not do – because some cricketers will continue to suffer at his hands. Or he can be sent back to re-learn his craft.