Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 255 Sat. February 12, 2005  
   
Sports


'Appeals to sway umps'


Australian quick bowler Brett Lee said Friday it was obvious that vigorous appeals were aimed at influencing umpires but denied the Australian team had taken the practice too far.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer claimed this week that the Australians were intimidating umpires and said 29 of 34 close decisions in his team's recent tour down under had gone the home team's way.

Lee was frank when asked if the Australians' appeals and the country's vocal hometown crowds could affect umpires decisions.

"Hopefully," he replied. "Hopefully being a bowler you can sway the umpire to give him out.

"I have not seen a problem with the way the Australian cricket team has been appealing and we only appeal when we think it should be out."

"There has been a lot written about it and sure umpires make mistakes, they're only human.

"But it is pretty hard for them when he only gets a split second to make a judgement, people get to watch it 15 times at home on super slow-motion replay.

"I think we should give them a pat on the back because they have done a pretty good job."

Lee said while he had no doubts about umpires' integrity, he would like to see two neutral umpires in one day matches to counter any accusations of hometown favouritism.

"Umpires don't cheat, that is common knowledge," he said. "It would be nice to put those rumours to bed and have neutral umpires in a 50 over match.

Lee also spoke of his chagrin at New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden's theatrical gestures on the field.

"Sometimes when you do look around and you've bowled a wide and you see him stretch his arms out like a pelican it is not the most flattering thing," he said. "You want to just go up to him and push his arms back down."

On the other hand, Lee has also joined the queue calling for the controversial one-day rotation policy to be dumped despite it launching him back into international colours.

Lee, who played in all of Australia's VB Series games while his bowling teammates were alternatively rested, said the fast men should look after themselves well enough to play every game.

"The rotation policy has definitely got to go," Lee said. "If we are managed correctly and doing our warm-downs and stretches there is no reason why a fast bowler cannot play each and every match. It is a long season but if we are doing the right things then I hope the rotation policy won't be needed any longer."