'Blind Freddy' Doctrove Burns India
Sat, May 4, '02
The ICC may look into the need for neutral TV umpires as well
after Billy Doctrove did a ?Blind Freddy? by giving West Indian
captain Carl Hooper not out on 15.
It was Ashish Nehra?s left hand that had done the damage earlier in
the day, sending back Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan after the two
had reached their half-centuries and added 119 for the third
wicket.
Now he stuck out that left hand and deflected Shivnarine
Chanderpaul?s drive onto the stumps with Hooper?s bat short of the
non-striker?s crease. It was evident in every replay and from every
angle.
But after an agonizing wait it was the green light that made the
Indians see red. Just last week there had been a third umpire
reprieve for Chanderpaul when there did not appear to be a shred of
doubt over hid dismissal.
Minutes later it was on-field umpire Daryl Harper who rubbed it in
on the second day by turning down a fierce lbw appeal against
Hooper -- and yes, the bowler was Nehra again.
Hooper had struggled for the early part of his innings and appeared
to get totally bogged down as he faced 82 balls for his first 15
runs. Chanderpaul, with the reputation of being the stodgier of the
pair who had been involved in a double-century stand in the first
Test at Georgetown, had raced to 48 with a flurry of boundaries
from just one ball less.
By the close they had both got into their 70s and the stand was
worth an unbeaten 153. At 314 for four and a lead of 212, the nail
was being hammered deeper and deeper into the Indian team?s coffin.
To give the bowlers credit, Nehra in particular plugged away
manfully. Indeed they had an early success when Zaheer Khan trapped
Chris Gayle in front for his overnight 14.
It was an uphill battle for the rest of the day as the West Indian
batsmen seemed determined to make the Indians pay for their
miserable first innings total of 102 all out.
Lara was not at his fluent best and mistimed an intended glance to
be caught and bowled by Nehra for 55. Sarwan once again infuriated
his supporters by playing a loose shot after doing all the hard
work and was out for 60.
After his twin reprieves, Hooper stepped on the pedal and in the
last session he easily outscored his partner. The next three days
will see India fighting with their backs to the wall. Escaping with
a draw is the best they can hope for. That would seem highly
unlikely though judging by their performance over the first two
days.
* SOURCE: Reprinted from the HT Cricket.