David Warner in startling umpire claim after ugly World Cup incident
The veteran Aussie batter was caught up in an ugly umpiring incident during Australia's game against Sri Lanka.
David Warner has doubled down on his umpiring frustrations after a controversial incident in Australia's victory over Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup. Warner was furious after being given out LBW for 11 runs after a close DRS decision during his side's five-wicket win.
The veteran Aussie opener was given out LBW by experienced umpire Joel Wilson, despite the ball looking very much like it was angling down the leg side. Replays and ball-tracking technology concluded that part of the ball was just hitting part of Warner's off-stump, meaning the umpire's original decision stood.
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A clearly irate Warner vocalised his displeasure about the decision as he trudged back to the pavilion, with the opener's behaviour sparking backlash from fans around the world. Far from demonstrating that he's willing to let the incident slide, Warner has now called on a radical new idea to hold umpires to account and provide a greater degree of transparency for players and fans around their performances in the middle.
“Players’ stats go up on the board as you walk out to bat,” Warner said, before suggesting the same should happen for the game's officials. “When they announce the umpires, I’d love to see their stats come up on the board as well.
"The NRL does it. I think the NFL does it. It’s a great thing for the spectators to see as well... You definitely know which umpires are going to give those 50-50 ones when it hits the pad, and that’s where from my perspective it gets frustrating.
“There’s no bias in anything. It’s just that you feel that as a player sometimes.”
Warner said his comments weren't specifically aimed at Wilson, even if the timing of the 36-year-old's proposal suggests otherwise. The opener went on to argue that umpires have to be held to the same levels of "accountability" as the players.
“If you get a decision wrong, just accept it and apologise,” Warner added. “Players aren’t going to bite your head off. Umpires aren’t going to bite your head off if you ask them the question. They’re generally pretty honest.
“You see it with the bunker in the NRL. You get absolute stinkers and some umpires don’t umpire the next game. I think over a period of time. You know, obviously players get dropped for poor performances. It‘s never explained to us about what goes on with the panel (of umpires) as well. So (stats are) just an indicator.
“But it‘s just little things that show the spectator it’s not easy. So you know, you can explain where it’s not easy, why it’s not easy. And then when good decisions are made, they can explain it. So I just think it’s something that could be explored.”
David Warner 'a bit annoyed' with DRS technology
Warner claimed after his controversial spray that he wasn't necessarily angry with the umpire, more the review system itself. "I asked Joel when I was out there just what happened, why did he give it out," Warner revealed. "He said the ball was swinging back so to his credit, if he thinks that then that's why he's given a decision.
"But then when you see the replay of how it unfolded you get a little bit annoyed, (but) that's out of our control. I just sprayed out loud in frustration pretty much just (to) myself... I know it's pretty much going down leg. So he (Wilson) said it was swinging back, (but) from my perspective on the replay, it wasn't."
Commentator Ian Smith said he didn't think Warner's reaction at the time was justified after technology showed part of the ball was hitting the stumps. “He cannot argue with technology. He leaves the ground in a huff it is fair to say," Smith said as Warner walked off.
However, Warner's former teammate Aaron Finch defended Warner's frustration after a close umpire call. “You can absolutely see why David Warner wasn’t happy. Live it just didn’t look like it was going to be smashing into the middle, or middle and leg. And the umpire’s call," Finch said.
“It’s the fine line. Umpire gives it not out, then David Warner is still batting. It’s just clipping leg stump.” Fortunately for Warner, the incident did not prove costly as the Aussies got their World Cup campaign back on track with a first win in three games.
England and South Africa's shock defeats to Afghanistan and Netherlands, respectively, have futher boosted Australia's chances of reaching the semi-finals, ahead of Friday's next group game against Pakistan in Bengaluru.
with AAP
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