Harper Howlers: a never ending affair

In the just concluded Test between West Indies and India, there were at least three bad calls by umpire Daryl Harper. HT takes a look at his controversial career.

In the just concluded Test between West Indies and India, there were at least three bad calls by umpire Daryl Harper. HT takes a look at his controversial career.

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On-field calls, 1999 Adelaide Oval
Australia vs India
Sachin Tendulkar ducked to a bouncer from Glenn McGrath and the ball struck him on shoulder. The Aussies appealed and Harper gave Sachin out lbw. This led to a furore and forced the ICC to come up with an idea of having two neutral umpires for Tests from 2002. Sunil Gavaskar noted,"He would be out if the stumps were 6 inches taller."

2010, Cape Town
South Africa vs England
Ashwell Prince was given out caught behind even though he had missed the ball by a foot.

2003 Kandy
Sri Lanka vs England
Sanath Jayasuriya didn't nick but Harper gave him out. The replays confirmed he was wrong.

As third umpire, 2010 Johannesburg
South Africa vs England
Graeme Smith was caught behind but was not given out. England reviewed the decision. Harper was the TV umpire and he upheld the on-field call because he forgot to increase the sound of stump microphone. "Keep Harper away from big decisions," Nasser Hussain said after this call.

ICC's actions against Harper
The England and Wales Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint with the ICC after the Test series against South Africa in 2010. Daryl Harper was subsequently dropped for the 2010 T20 World Cup in West Indies.

In the recently concluded World Cup held in the sub-continent, Daryl Harper fared poorly again. Seven out of his 14 decisions were over-turned after review. He was dropped after the group stages.