Bumrah was asked about neutral umpires after Tim Paine’s run-down call
Without honestly stating that India wicketkeeper Tim Paine was denied in a close appeal on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, Jasprit Bumrah has said it is “unfortunate” that neutral umpires cannot travel for Exams. However, he was quick to add that it was not something he or his team focused on.
Evidence of this appeal emerged. One angle showed a Paine bat on the crest when Rishabh Pant broke the stocks while the angle from the other side indicated that a Paine bat may have slipped over the line. Third umpire Paul Wilson was heard saying he had no evidence to conclude that Paine’s bat was “on the wrong side of the line”, and ruled that he did not release it.
While Wilson was making the decision, the teams took a look at the redesigns on the big screen at the MCG. A couple of Indian rangers raised their finger to move out “when the re-enactments were shown. Captain Ajinkya Rahane was also seen conversing with the umpires on the field.
At the press conference, Bumrah was asked whether, in the context of this appeal, he recently agreed with West Indies Test captain Jason Holder if players were to travel for Exams, that umpires could be neutral as well.
“Look, those are the things we can’t control,” Bumrah said. “I understand that the situations are difficult and that all of these things are out of our hands. I try not to focus on things that we can’t control but yes it is unfortunate. the umpires aren’t allowed to travel.But it’s something I have no power to change.We try to focus on things we can change.That’s the only thing our team is doing If our path is decided or not, we need to look ahead and focus on the next member. “
Bumrah did not specifically state, however, that he believed Paine was out or whether a neutral umpire would rule in India’s favor. After the recent tour around New Zealand, Holder had raised this issue, mainly due to T20I captain Kieron Pollard ‘s resentment with the umpiring.
“An umpiring, Polly [Pollard] there were certainly a few question marks over the umpiring in the T20 series. But look, I try to be as far down the line. What I would say about the umpiring, or the situation of the umpires, is that if we can travel and do quarantine, I don’t see why an (overseas) anti-quarantine regulator can’t travel and do the quarantine, ” said Holder at the end of the tour.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo