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Head umpire Dharmasena admits judgmental error, says no regrets
Former Sri Lankan test cap Kumar Dharmasena, who officiated as head umpire at the Cricket World Cup’s nail-biting final between England and New Zealand, has admitted that umpires had made an “judgmental error” in signalling six runs off the fourth ball in England’s last over run chase.
Arguably, this decision turned decisive eventually with both teams scoring 241 runs. This was followed by a Super Over tie with both teams scoring 15 runs. England were eventually awarded the Cup on a controversial tournament rule.
Umpire Dharmasena told the Sunday Times, “It was a human error arising from the fact that they could not avail themselves of TV replays in this instance”. He said “all the other umpires” – including the third umpire and the match referee (Ranjan Madugalla), had agreed to signal six runs instead of five runs.
The decision in question is over the fourth ball of the final over. A throw from deep mid-wicket ricocheted off the bat of a diving Ben Stokes at the striker’s end and raced away to the third man boundary.
The law says that, if the boundary results from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder, “the runs scored shall be any runs for penalties awarded to either side, and the allowance for the boundary, and the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if they had already crossed at the instant of the throw or act.”
Mr. Dharmasena said he consulted leg umpire Marais Erasmus, the other umpires and the match referee. He decided to award six runs, two by Stokes and four for the overthrow. Chasing 242 for victory, England needed nine from the final three balls. This changed to three off two balls with the six runs awarded. There was no legal provision to refer this to the third umpire as no dismissal was involved.
“So, I did consult the leg umpire through the communication system which is heard by all other umpires and the match referee. While they cannot check TV replays, they all confirmed that the batsmen have completed the second run. This is when I made my decision.
“It’s easy for people to comment after seeing TV replays,” he said. “I agree that there was an error of judgment when I see it on TV replays now. But we did not have the luxury of TV replays at the ground and I do not regret the decision I made.”
After scores were tied at 241 at the end of the regulation game and the Super Over also was tied at 15 each, England were awarded the victory on the boundary count.
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