Lara Takes Poke at Umpire

When Brian Lara was given out caught at the wicket on Friday, he stared at the umpire and at the celebrating English players with an incredulous look of disbelief. Immediately after the day's play, the West Indies captain issued a one-sentence statement that read: "I still find it impossible not to walk when I know I'm out."

Lara's statement, which was badly mangled by sections of the British media (Channel 4 television will issue an apology at the start of play on Saturday), was a not-so-subtle poke at two crucial errors by 'elite' ICC umpire Daryl Harper that went against his team.

Lara, who is widely applauded -- and sometimes derided -- for walking whenever he edges, was visibly upset with Harper's decision. Almost an hour after he was given out, Channel 4's cameras showed a steaming Lara sitting in the pavilion with his pads on.

Then came the one-sentence statement that confirmed that he walks when he knows he's out.

Television replays of Harper's error showed Lara's bat tucked well behind his front foot as the ball brushed the pad on the way to the wicket-keeper.

Earlier, Chris Gayle was given out sweeping at Ashley Giles, a decision that was widely condemned by the television commentators. Gayle had pushed his right leg well down the track and was hit well outside the off-stump.