ICC Cricket Umpires
Darrell Hair
Darrell Bruce Hair, (born 30 September 1952 in Mudgee, New South Wales), is a current Australian Test cricket match umpire, from New South Wales. He stood on the Emirates International panel of umpires from 2002 to 2003, before he, along with fellow Australian Simon Taufel, and New Zealander Billy Bowden, was promoted to the ICC Elite umpire panel.
As of September 2006, Hair has stood in 76 Test matches and 124 one-day international (ODI) matches since 1991. Altogether, he has umpired 131 first-class matches in his career since 1989. In 1994 the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a policy of appointing one umpire to each Test match from a non-participating country, and since 2002 both umpires have been appointed from non-participating nations, by the ICC. The majority of Hairs Test matches have been played outside Australia, and did not involve Australia. His last Test match involving Australia was against South Africa at Melbourne on 26 December to 29 December 2001, won by Australia by 9 wickets, with Matthew Hayden scoring a century and wickets shared by Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Shane Warne. Hairs colleague was the West Indian umpire, Eddie Nicholls. At the local level, Hair played with the Mosman club in the Sydney Grade Cricket competition, as a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
Controversies
Throughout his umpiring career, Hair has been a controversial figure. Two of the most prominent incidents have involved Asian nations, leading to accusations of bias. Rameez Raja claimed that subcontinental players universally feel that he is biased even to the extent of being racist. Other former cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga have complained about bias, and have been joined by Imran Khan and Kapil Dev in criticising Hair's manner as heavy handed.Despite this he has been supported by fellow elite umpire Simon Taufel.1992 Adelaide
Hair's first Test match was between Australia and India at Adelaide on 25 January to 29 January 1992, won by Australia by 38 runs with second innings centuries to David Boon and Mark Taylor after a first innings of only 145, and two 5-wicket bags by Craig McDermott. Wisden (1993 ed., p1011-2) noted that the game was marred by controversy over lbw decisions eight times Indians were given out, while all but two of their own appeals were rejected. Hair's partner was Peter McConnell, standing in his last Test match.1993 Adelaide
The Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide on 23 January to 26 January 1993 was a fluctuating match won by the visitors by a mere one run. The victory was achieved when Australias No. 11, Craig McDermott, was dismissed after a 40-run partnership with Tim May had brought Australia so close to victory. Hair ruled that a short-pitched ball from Courtney Walsh had brushed McDermotts glove and upheld the appeal for a catch, but many observers believed that McDermott had not gloved the ball.1994 Adelaide
In the Test match between Australia and South Africa at Adelaide on 28 January to 1 February 1994, Wisden (1995 ed., pp1086-7) stated that Peter Kirsten had an animated conversation with Hair after three of his team-mates were given out lbw. Another outburst when he was given out leg-before himself in the second innings resulted in Kirsten being fined a total of 65 per cent of his match fee.1995 Melbourne
In his only match between Australia and Sri Lanka, at Melbourne on 26 December to 30 December 1995 he called Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in three overs for throwing. Wisden (1997 ed., p.1129-30) stated unusually, he made his judgement from the bowlers end, and several minutes passed before the crowd realised that Muralitharans elbow, rather than his foot, was at fault. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga responded by leading his team off the field. When they finally returned, Ranatunga switched Muralitharan to the other end where he was not called by either Hair or his colleague, New Zealander Steve Dunne, although Hair told the Sri Lankans at tea on the second day that he was ready to call him from the strikers end.Hair did not umpire another Test match involving Sri Lanka until their tour of the West Indies in 2003. He did not stand in the 1996 World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and, in 1999, received death threats.
2005 Faisalabad
In November 2005, Darrell Hair referred a run-out decision concerning captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to the third umpire Nadeem Ghauri during the Faisalabad Test. Inzamam was taking evasive action, and according to the laws of cricket, a batsman cannot be run out if he leaves his ground due to evasive action.2006 The Oval
On 20 August 2006, the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, Hair was involved in controversy when he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that the Pakistani team had been involved in ball tampering. They awarded five penalty runs to England and offered them a replacement ball. Play continued until the tea break, but the Pakistani players refused to take the field thereafter in protest at the decision. The umpires then left the field, directed the Pakistani players to resume play, and returned once more 15 minutes later. After waiting two more minutes the umpires removed the bails and declared England winners by forfeiture. This, incidentally, was the first such end to a Test match in over 1000 tests. The Pakistani team did take to the field 25 minutes later, but by then it was Hair and Doctrove themselves who refused to continue the game stating that the game had already ended with a Pakistani forfeiture the moment the bails were removed, even though both teams were willing to continue the match. The Test was abandoned following meetings between various officials from all parties, with the match awarded to England.Darrell Hair News
Darrell Hair removed from Elite Panel
Nov 04, 2006
The International Cricket Council (ICC) removed Australian umpire Darrell Hair from its Elite Panel after an executive board meeting in Mumbai on Saturday.
"Hair will not be appointed for any international or first class game in the future," said ICC president Percy Sonn, announcing the decision that brought a controversial career to an end. "We have discussed the issue, and the members came to the conclusion that they have lost confidence in him." The decision came after Pakistan complained against Mr. Hair for his part in the forfeiture of the Oval Test in August this year the first such instance in Test cricket's 129-year history. Mr. Hair had awarded the match to England after Pakistan refused to take the field in protest at the team being accused of ball tampering. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said Mr. Hair, whose contract was not due to expire until March 2008, was "very disappointed" when the decision was conveyed to him.
Darrell Hair not to officiate in ICC Champions Trophy
Sep 28 2006
Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair will not officiate in the Champions Trophy in India next month, the International Cricket Council announced on Thursday.
After weeks of speculation on whether Hair would be included in the umpires' panel for Champions Trophy in the wake of the Oval Test fiasco, ICC said Hair had been left out due to "safety and security concerns". Tournament hosts India had demanded on Tuesday that the ICC omit Hair as his presence might provoke spectators.
The ICC announcement came after a disciplinary hearing found Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq "not guilty" of ball tampering, a charge laid by Hair during the Oval Test. An indignant Hair said he wished to continue on with umpiring seconds after an ICC spokesman revealed that he had been withdrawn from the Champions Trophy.
Darrell Hair back for Champions Trophy
Sep 20 2006
Darrell Hair, the umpire at the centre of the Pakistan forfeit debacle at The Oval in August is expected to return to international cricket at the ICC Champions Trophy next month.
The official, whose career appeared to be on the line after accusing Pakistan of ball tampering and awarding the 4th Test to England, seemed to have put that drama behind him ahead of the one-day tournament in India. The news of Hair's imminent return is sure to outrage Pakistan players and officials, as it comes a week before Inzamam-ul Haq's ICC hearing which will look into the ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute charges leveled by Hair in England. Facing a ban of 2-4 Tests or 4-8 one-day matches if found guilty, Inzamam has been retained as captain by Pakistan for the Champions Trophy tournament. The International Cricket Council has thrown its support behind Hair ahead of Inzamam's hearing and the Champions Trophy.