Poor Umpiring in focus
RETUERS

LONDON, DECEMBER 14: The English press savaged South African umpire Rudi Koertzen following his controversial decisions in the second cricket Test which concluded at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Four of the six English second innings wickets were to dubious decisions, with Koertzen responsible for three of them.

``He's a Rudi joke,'' said the tabloid Sun. The Daily Mail said: ``Umpire's gaffes leave England seething,'' while he Guardian's

back-page headline read: ``England survive umpiring nightmare''.

Opener Mark Butcher was given out lbw to a ball pitching outside leg stump while Michael Vaughan was declared caught behind by Koertzen when TV replays appeared to show no contact.

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor then gave Alec Stewart out lbw to a ball that appeared missing the leg stump by a distance and Chris Adams was given out caught by Jonty Rhodes after the ball popped up from his pad. Few South Africans appealed and Rhodes appeared uninterested, but Koertzen puthis finger up -- much to the disbelief of Adams, who spread his arms and shouted ``no way''.

Later, standing at square leg, Koertzen was involved in a bizarre situation when Lance Klusener bowled at Nasser Hussain from 15 metres behind the stumps. Hussain stepped away, the ball narrowly missing the stumps, but a no ball was not called. Klusener repeated the ploy next ball and Hussain played the ball which, under the laws of the game, should have been called a no ball because Bucknor could not see his delivery action.