It reminded me of a game I played in many years ago, an away match umpired by their man at both ends with one of our blokes doing square leg. He was ancient. The bowler ran in, and I pushed the ball back down the wicket to him.
'How was that?' he asked the umpire.
'What?' I said.
'Out' said the umpire.
'Unlucky mate,' said first slip. 'He always does that'.
Oh does he, I thought, as I walked off...
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Nice.
I played in a game last year when a ball was bowled off the pitch but the batsmen went over and smashed it for four anyway. The umpire called wides.
In most of the cricket games I've played in, LBW decisions have been almost entirely political.
I used to play in the same team as my old man. He was an absolute stickler for playing in the right spirit - no sledging, always clap the batsman on, no stupid appeals - even down to making sure the oppo got their tea first. Never saw him lose it in 35 plus years of watching and playing on the same side...
Apart from one game where the batsman didn't walk after he'd be bowled (BOWLED!) by Dad, and the home umpire (the batsman's father in law apparently) gave it not out, saying it bounced back off the keepers pads.
That was the last ball of the over. Dad seethed at slip throughout the next over, then when it was his turn to bowl again, stood by the umpire, took his sweater off and, very ostentatiously, walked over to the other umpire at square-leg and gave it to him...
Suffice to say, the atmosphere was somewhat strained in the bar after the game.
Speaking of square leg umpires - brilliant work from your dad, Mark - I once played in a game where the batsman walked over behind the square leg umpire and had a spew.
In Canada, almost all matches are umpired with one standing umpire, while the batting side supplies the square leg.
This obviously leads to dozens of confrontations yearly about run outs/stumpings not being given.
The best (or worst depending on perspective) argument I saw, ended with the bowler getting bitch slapped by the league umpire! The bowler then retaliated...
Both parties got suspended for the remaining games of the season and the entire next season.
In most of the cricket games I've played in, LBW decisions have been almost entirely political... i agree with this
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