Johnson-Anderson differ over Beer’s no-ball
By IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
SYDNEY - Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson Tuesday expressed reservations about an umpire using referrals for confirming no-balls after debutant spinner Micahel Beer was denied the wicket of Alastair Cook on the second day of the fifth Ashes Test here Tuesday.
Beer, bowling his 14th ball, enticed in-form English batsman into miscuing an aerial shot which was eventually caught by Ben Hilfenhaus. Beer thought he has got his maiden international wicket but umpire Billy Bowden referred the decision for checking a suspected no-ball.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently allowed umpires to confirm their decisions, but Johnson termed the situation as “frustrating”.
“Personally, I guess, being in that situation, probably not. It can be frustrating, I guess. If the umpires know it is a no-ball, I think they should call it, instead of waiting to call it,” Johnson was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I think everyone is going to have different opinions on it. My opinion is, I suppose it is not a bad thing, but it can be frustrating if — I suppose you have just got to get your foot behind the line.”
Johnson sympathised with Beer for being denied his first Test scalp.
“I know how he feels. I think he handled it very well in the end.”
“It was disappointing for him that he could not get his first wicket, and it would have been a good wicket to get, as well, being Cook. I think the way he handled himself after that and the way he bowled was good signs for us,” he said.
But England pace spearhead James Anderson supported Bowden’s decision and said umpires should use it more often.
“I think it is good cricket, because the correct decision comes out at the end of the day,” Anderson said.
“I think they should do it more often. I don’t think they use it enough.
“A no-ball is a no-ball, and you should get the correct decision when he has bowled one. We think it is a very important part of our job to stay behind the line - even more so in one-day cricket,” he said.
