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Australia v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Hobart, 5th day
Koertzen says sorry to Sangakkara
Peter English in Hobart
November 20, 2007
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Rudi Koertzen's incorrect call helped end the game early by extinguishing Kumar Sangakkara's innings on 192
© AFP
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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 Jayawardene
said. "But that's it. Kumar being Kumar was fine with
it. He was very disappointed at the particular moment,
but when you sit back after half an hour, you know
it's a mistake made by a human and that's it."
Sangakkara's bat was a long way from the ball when it
hit his shoulder, but Ponting said he was certain it
was out. "We all reacted on the two noises we heard at
the time," Ponting said. "It sounded like it was
either glove or bat and up into his helmet. As we all
know, things happen pretty quickly on the field,
especially when there's a bouncer being bowled to a
batsman like that."
It was the second contentious catching decision of the
match involving Sangakkara. In the first innings he
edged to Michael Hussey in the gully, but was ruled
not out by the third umpire. Ponting, who has given up
trying to set up an international honesty system on
catches, said the low-to-the-ground takes should
always be judged by the on-field officials.
"The other captains wanted to have the replay referral
system, which I don't think is right because as we've
seen in this game, 100% of them are given not out," he
said. "I think there's only been one that's been given
to the third umpire that's been given out and I don't
think that's right because then you will get batsmen
just standing there all the time. That is not what the
game is all about."
Despite Ponting's push for a deal on unclear low
catches to uphold the spirit of the game, Australia's
fielders did not attempt to reverse incorrect "out"
decisions by the umpires during the series. When it
comes to ruling on whether the batsmen hit the ball
they believe the official's decision is final. "The
umpire gave it out, that's what happened today,"
Ponting said. "There was no dispute over the catch."
Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
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