It is the umpire’s job to take control if things get out of hand in cricket. Here are the 5 times when the umpires themselves got involved in arguments with players.
- Michael Clarke and Aleem Dar
In 2013 during the Ashes test series Michael Clarke, the captain of the Australia got involved in an altercation with the standing umpire Aleem Dar. Clarke argued with umpires as he wanted the day to be called off as lights were fading away. Clarke remembers telling Dar ‘to not to touch him’. Clarke said, “I remember Aleem touching me and I asked him politely to not touch me because if I touched him I’d be suspended for three matches.”
- MS Dhoni and Billy Bowden
It is a very rare occasion when captain cool MS Dhoni loses his temper. In 2012 during an ODI game between India and Australia, a stumping off Suresh Raina against Michael Hussey was sent to the third umpire. The third umpire had given Hussey out and as he was walking back umpire Billy Bowden called him back. Bowden told Dhoni that the third umpire had pressed the wrong button by mistake and that’s why Hussey was called back. Captain Cool obviously was not happy with the situation and even exchanged some word with Bowden.
- Ricky Ponting and Aleem Dar
This time it is Clarke’s former captain Ricky Ponting who got involved in an altercation with Aleem Dar. The incident took place in 2010 on the second day of the fourth test against England. Ponting along with the Australian team had appealed for a caught behind for Kevin Pietersen but was given not out by the on-field umpire. Ponting sent the decision to the third umpire. Even after the third umpire gave the decision of not out, Ponting continued to argue with the on-field umpires. Before going back to his fielding position, Ponting even argued with Pietersen.
- Virat Kohli and Kumar Dharmasena
The former Indian team captain always had a reputation of being an aggressive captain. The incident in 2015 when Virat Kohli was leading Royal Challengers Bangalore in a rain-affected match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. During the last over of the SRH innings the RCB skipper went on to the on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena asking him to stop the match as it had started to rain. The other on-field umpire had to step in to calm Kohli, though the argument did not last for long Dharmasena looked quite agitated.
- Arjuna Ranatunga and Darrell Hair
In the infamous boxing-day test match of 1995, on-field umpire, Darrell Hair kept calling Muttiah Muralitharan’s balls no balls. Hair accused Muralidharan of bowling with a chucking action. While on the other hand the other on-field umpire, Steve Dunn had no problem with Muralitharan’s action. This made the Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga very angry and he with his team left the ground in protest.
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