Darryl Hair. The very name of this legendary Aussie umpire is guaranteed to send sub-continental fans into an effigy burning or hero drowning spasm. They are an excitable bunch to be sure, and from my observations happy to play the racism card at any opportunity (check the comments on this vid for a recurring theme.

I’ve always respected Daryll as an umpire who calls it as he sees it. In the same month as this debacle he was named Wisden’s Cricketer of the year and the ICC’s top ranked umpire for correct decisions in the year (253 of 263 ~ 95%).

Daryll was the one umpire with the courage to call Murali for chucking at a time when everyone suspected his action. It’s no suprise that the racist card was levelled upon him at the time, and it was no more justified then than it is now.

The footage embedded above shows the scenes that unfolded when Hair docked the Pakistan team 5 runs for ball tampering. That they then played the victim card and threw their toys out of the cot certainly didn’t help their case, and as such they were fined by the ICC for bringing the game into disrepute.

The following quote from item 31 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct hearing indicates that Hair acted prudently in the situation:

Mr Hair, Mr Doctrove, Mr Jesty, Mr Cowie, Mr Procter, and Peter Hartley (the third umpire who gave written evidence and was available for cross-examination) all told me that the marks which are visible on the ball meant that it had been interfered with by a fielder

So now Dazza will get his day in court, turning the tables in superb style by suing the ICC and the Pakistani Cricket Board for racism! Even better, he’s had Inzamaan Ul Huq summoned and as the former captain is currently playing county cricket for Yorkshire he’s required to attend the hearing. Inzy is typically quite stuborn and emotive – the fairytale ending here would be for the big fella to step his foot in the brown stuff and incriminate the PCB.

As for the ICB, what a bunch of softc’ocks. As an employer you’d be forgiven for having expected them to show some support for their man. Instead they’ve hung big Daz out to dry to pander to the irrational paranoias of the over sensative sub-continental cash cows (can we still say cow?). Billy Doctrove has not even rated a mention however while standing at the other end was complicitly involved. Instead they’ve had their top ranked man restricted to officiating Associate matches while the rest of us get Aleem “lbbw” Dar (Leg and Bat Before Wicket… ask Marto!)