After drawing much flak for declaring Virender Sehwag leg before in the first Test between India and Australia in Bangalore, umpire Billy Bowden has blamed the noisy crowd for spoiling his concentration.
HT Image
"This is the first time I'm umpiring under such circumstances and it's just too noisy. I've umpired in Sri Lanka, but that was nothing like here. Everybody makes a mistake," Bowden said about his job in Bangalore.
Bowden said he was surprised by the ear-splitting noise levels from the crowd that made it virtually impossible for him to hear snicks.
"There are ups and downs in everyone's career. You have to move on," Bowden was quoted as saying.
Bowden got it wrong when he gave Sehwag out lbw off a big inside edge in the second innings and India crumbled thereafter crashing to a 217-run defeat.
The report also said that Bowden talked to Sehwag on the field after the first Test and said: "Sorry."