Batsman nicks it behind... Vociferous appeal goes up... White coat
says 'not out'... Decision is referred... Snicko' shouts 'out'... Big Snicko'
graph proves the contact with the outside edge... TV white coat says 'no'... Punters and pundits utterly dumbfounded.
James Anderson takes a wicket, except that he doesn't. That's the wacky world of cricket we love watching.
It was one of those regular occurences in international cricket
when the entire ground, all the players, and every spectator is busy
celebrating or bemoaning a wicket - but the white coats disagree.
It was a farcical situation where every man and his dog inside the
Rose Bowl claimed to have heard the snick, the technology proved they were
right in their convictions, but the decision defied it all.
The Snickometer technology, not used in the Decision Review
System because of the time it takes to make judgement, confirmed moments after TV-watching, tea-drinking umpire Billy Doctrove said 'not out' that
there had indeed been an edge.
On a day distinctly lacking in talking points, this was one which
certainly irked the smattering of umbrella-wielding spectators at the ground,
and justifiably so.
There is only one thing worse than having technology which is far
superior to the judgement of the on-field officials, and that is having the
technology in question scream the correct decisions at all and sundry, only to
have it ignored.
No matter; the rain intervened and a historic and glorious day for
Hampshire's aesthetically pleasing Rose Bowl was sadly spoilt.
One of the five days Hampshire libero Rod Bransgrove had dedicated
himself towards enabling for the cost of having to no doubt quaff burgundy and drill
copious amounts of caviar with the likes of Giles Clarke was fragmented.
It was an intensely frustrating day for everyone at the club, and
it also confounded those who believe that Tests should not be played in
Northern counties on the sole basis of the weather. This was Southampton, and
it positively hosed it down.
One consolation for the Hampshire faithful was seeing England thrive despite the torrential and stubborn downpours, with Chris Tremlett and Jimmy Anderson capitalising on fragile, tepid batting in favourable conditions.
If Snicko' had had its way, it could have been even better.
+++++
Steven Finn was dropped for Anderson, which meant Stuart Broad
was handed another chance to increase his ever-burgeoning bowling average.
Broad was again handed the new cherry in preference to Tremlett, and again he bowled as if horribly under-cooked with an overly short
length and a scowl to match.
Cowers
is a big fan of Broad's and would love to see him given the Anderson
treatment of a few years back, advocating a return to county cricket.
The
Notts beanpole could have his bowling (and batting, for that matter)
considerably bolstered by a spell for his club, with the confidence it would no
doubt give him.
Broad
has endured a sorry spate of injuries and niggles over the past 18 months, and
his record of 13 wickets in seven Tests bears out the fact that his confidence
with the ball is not what it should be for a player of his talent.
Do you think Broad should be given a
spell on the county circuit to rediscover his mojo?
Should Snicko be employed
as a compulsory feature on the international circuit? Post your views in the
comments' section below...
+++++
SHOT
OF THE DAY: None. No, really, not one to speak of.
STAT OF THE DAY: There have now been over 11 hours lost to rain and bad light. Pretty poor all-round. That's far too much time spent playing darts and 'throw Ian Bell's kit bag around until he gets upset' from the England camp.
POINTLESS USER STAT OF THE DAY: "It's a
little known fact that Steven Finn has scored the highest percentage of runs in
threes of any Test cricketer." (Courtesy of Dan Golding.)
TWEET OF THE DAY: "Obviously gutted
not to be playing today. Need to perform much better to deserve a place in such
a good team! Am at fleet services already..." (The omitted Steven Finn
reacts to his dropping.)
SNAP
OF THE DAY: Anderson's protestations over the 'lack of rain' are heavily undermined by the enormous mass of umbrellas in the stands (pictured, below). Umpire Dar knew where he wanted to be, and that was cuddled up with his Earl Grey...
