da esoccer bet： Rudi Koertzen apologised to Kumar Sangakkara for the mistake that prevented the batsman from reaching a seventh double-century and extinguished the slim chance Sri Lanka had of levelling the series in Hobart
Peter English in Hobart20-Nov-2007
Rudi Koertzen’s incorrect call helped end the game early by extinguishing Kumar Sangakkara’s innings on 192 © AFP
Rudi Koertzen apologised to Kumar Sangakkara for the mistake that prevented the batsman from reaching a seventh double-century and extinguished the slim chance Sri Lanka had of levelling the series in Hobart. Sangakkara, who swept to 192 in a brutal and beautiful innings, missed a pull shot off Stuart Clark and was hit on the shoulder and helmet before the ball floated towards Ricky Ponting at second slip.The two noises convinced the Australians to appeal and Sangakkara angled his head in disbelief when the decision came. He stood his ground briefly before walking off in disappointment, but exchanged back-slaps with Koertzen after the 96-run defeat.”Rudi came and said sorry to him,” Mahela Jayawardenesaid. “But that’s it. Kumar being Kumar was fine withit. He was very disappointed at the particular moment,but when you sit back after half an hour, you knowit’s a mistake made by a human and that’s it.”Sangakkara’s bat was a long way from the ball when ithit his shoulder, but Ponting said he was certain itwas out. “We all reacted on the two noises we heard atthe time,” Ponting said. “It sounded like it waseither glove or bat and up into his helmet. As we allknow, things happen pretty quickly on the field,especially when there’s a bouncer being bowled to abatsman like that.”It was the second contentious catching decision of thematch involving Sangakkara. In the first innings heedged to Michael Hussey in the gully, but was rulednot out by the third umpire. Ponting, who has given uptrying to set up an international honesty system oncatches, said the low-to-the-ground takes shouldalways be judged by the on-field officials.”The other captains wanted to have the replay referralsystem, which I don’t think is right because as we’veseen in this game, 100% of them are given not out,” hesaid. “I think there’s only been one that’s been givento the third umpire that’s been given out and I don’tthink that’s right because then you will get batsmenjust standing there all the time. That is not what thegame is all about.”Despite Ponting’s push for a deal on unclear lowcatches to uphold the spirit of the game, Australia’sfielders did not attempt to reverse incorrect “out”decisions by the umpires during the series. When itcomes to ruling on whether the batsmen hit the ballthey believe the official’s decision is final. “Theumpire gave it out, that’s what happened today,”Ponting said. “There was no dispute over the catch.”