To walk or not to walk

[Rachael]

A fielder knows if there's a possibility he didn't catch the ball cleanly. We've seen Hussain signal for the third umpire rather than appealing and he's not alone. That sets a precedent that all should follow - but if there's room for doubt, though, it's up to the fielder to refuse to appeal.

Batsmen should get the benefit of the doubt in these situations.

Same goes for bowler appeals: I personally would have the 4th umpire look at all appeals.. and just demand that any bowler who appeals when no appeal was credible be formally warned and then removed from the attack for the rest of the innings in the same way as they would for running down the track - it's all attempting to deceive the umpire!

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Rachael

A fielder knows if there's a possibility he didn't catch the ball cleanly. We've seen Hussain signal for the third umpire rather than appealing and he's not alone. That sets a precedent that all should follow - but if there's room for doubt, though, it's up to the fielder to refuse to appeal.

It should be, and this is the way I believe cricket should be played. Sadly, I don't think we can rely on enough players to be this honest. Without 100% co-operation from the players, it won't work. And remember that there is a lot riding on these situations sometimes. It could conceivably decide which way a series goes, whether a catch is claimed or not. Morally, I say the catcher should be honest in all situations. But I have also felt that competitive urge, which sometimes leads you to keep quiet about something instead of being upfront and honest. You have a short space in which to decide whether you claim the catch or not. The instinct to win can sometimes overtake the will to have fair play. I know that in highly competitive sport, we will never get 100% honesty from players, so we need to go for the next best thing, umpire decisions. It's not ideal, but then if it was, we'd have less to discuss wouldn't we!

[Lemming]

Just watching the highlights of yesterday's match. Damien Martyn attempted a cut shot and top edged to Geraint Jones. It was an obvious edge and frankly a poor decision by Umpire Mark Benson, but Martyn should have walked if anyone in the history of cricket ever walked. There is no excuse for not walking when the edge is so obvious and the catch so clean, in my opinion.

Maybe the hero of cricket, namely Adam Gilchrist, should start his finger pointing in his own dressing room, before picking on Vaughan!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Lemming

Maybe the hero of cricket, namely Adam Gilchrist, should start his finger pointing in his own dressing room, before picking on Vaughan!

Innit. I can't say i'm ever bothered about people not walking, but this moral highground stuff is just crap when you only use it against the opposition and say nothing about your team mates.

[Lemming]

Here's a few articles about the Australian's walking:

One about Gilchrist and his plans to walk, after being made to think by the Vaughan/Langer situation:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003...00/2863931.stm

An article from November last year about Hayden's refusing to walk after a similar incident:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...al/4044501.stm

Once again, maybe Gilchrist should have a look around his dressing room!

[Lemming]

Just watching the highlights it seems that Trescothick edged behind also. I believe he should have walked. But when you are standing at backward point and Martyn does not, why the hell are you going to three hours later when it's your turn.

Gilchrist gave him a funny look! But he was probably laughing his socks off earlier when Damo got away with it!

Vaughan - I think - got going slowly, to begin with. But he played some class strokes and got a good 50!

[Trescothick]

Although i agree with all of you, we should give Gilchrist some respect... He did walk himself when he edged although he was gonna be given out anyway. But he didn't wait around. He walked. How did the umpire miss the Martyn one? It couldn't have been more obvious.

[Pete]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...?from=storylhs

Adam doesn't expect that from anybody else. He doesn't expect anyone in our team to walk, either, so he can't expect that of any opposition players.

What was the confrontation with McMillan about then?

[Lemming]

Hold on it gets better:

Looks like there's another Australian standing his ground in a Vaughan/Langer catching style!

It's good old Damien again:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricke...724661427.html

Does anybody know if this is true?

http://www.thefooty.com/artman/publi...cle_1065.shtml

[Pete]

Sounds like a pi** take to me