Test match, the biggest format of cricket, has its own importance. Test cricket is considered to be the real cricket and in this, along with the batsmen, the bowlers are also tested. Sometimes in test matches the result comes out within 2 days. But sometimes the result is not out after five days. If we look at it, many exciting matches have been seen in the 147 year history of Test cricket. But there came an occasion when a team won a test match because the rival team refused to take the field.
There was complete chaos in Pakistan-England match
This incident happened in the year 2006 between England and Pakistan at the Oval ground in London, which was the last test of the four-match series between the two countries. The first Test match of the series between the two countries ended without any result, while host England won the next two Test matches. After this, Pakistan dominated the fourth Test match and was in a very good position to register its first win in the series. But then the Pakistan team led by Inzamam Ul Haq was accused of ball tampering. What happened after this became history. Let’s know this whole story…
That test match started on 17 August and complete chaos took place on the fourth day of the game i.e. 20 August 2006. In the match, Pakistani captain Inzamam ul Haq won the toss and decided to bowl. Pakistani bowlers proved their captain’s decision right and bundled out England’s first innings for 173 runs in 53.2 overs. Umar Gul (4/46) and Mohammad Asif (4/56) bowled brilliantly for the visiting team. Then Pakistan team scored 504 runs in its first innings and got a lead of 331 runs. Mohammad Yousuf played an inning of 128 runs for Pakistan, while openers Mohammad Hafeez (95) and Imran Farhat (91) became victims of nervous nineties.
After falling behind by a big margin on the basis of first innings, the English team tried to make a comeback in the match. However, during their second innings, England lost the wicket of Marcus Trescothick (4) in the third over itself. But captain Andrew Strauss (54) and Alastair Cook (83) settled at the crease and made a partnership of 107 runs. After that there was a partnership of 103 runs between Cook and Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket. Here the England team seemed to be making a very good comeback. But the century partnership of Cook-Pietersen was broken by fast bowler Umar Gul.
Cook was out LBW on a swinging ball from Gul in the 52nd over of England’s innings. After Cook, Paul Collingwood came to the crease and took the innings forward with Kevin Pietersen. In this second innings of England, everything was going well till the 56th over. But after the 56th over, there is a conversation between on-field umpire Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove. Hayer does not seem at all happy with the condition of the ball and was repeatedly showing specific parts of the ball to fellow umpire Doctorow. After this, fourth umpire Trevor Zesty brought the box, which contained many balls.
… Darrell Hair gave 5 penalty runs to England
The Pakistani captain was not very happy with this because the ball had just started taking reverse swing. However, the umpires showed the ball to the batsmen and asked them to choose one, after which Collingwood chose one ball. Till now everything was fine because it is common to change the ball due to bad condition. But on this occasion, after changing the ball, surprisingly Darrell Hair indicated five penalty runs in England’s account. Hair believed that the Pakistani team had tampered with the ball. Inzamam lodged an objection against this decision, but the on-field umpire clearly said that whatever you have to say, you should tell it to the match referee. Meanwhile, the game continues after lunch on the fourth day.
By the end of the 72nd over, England’s score was 298 runs for four wickets and they were only 33 runs behind Pakistan. Kevin Pietersen was out on 96 runs. While Ian Bell was unbeaten on 9 and Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 26 runs. However, due to bad weather, the umpires had declared tea time on this score. During tea time, Pakistani team coach Ball Woolmer has a debate on this matter with the match referee. Meanwhile, the weather had also cleared and the umpires came to the field for the last session. Umpires came to the field, but the players of Pakistan team did not come. On the other hand, sitting in the dugout, Collingwood and Bell were eagerly looking towards the dressing room of the Pakistan team.
After a long wait, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell also came on the field to bat. Both of them made it clear that they were ready to play, but the Pakistani players were not ready to come on the field. Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal takes off his gloves and sits in the balcony. There were only two batsmen and two umpires on the field, which was a very strange situation. When Pakistani players did not come on the field, Darrell Hair dropped the bails at 5 pm. After this both the umpires and both the batsmen leave the field. Here it was completely clear that according to the umpires the match has been declared over and England has become the winner.
… Darrell Hair cited the rules
However, after a few minutes another twist is seen. The English camp tries to convince the Pakistani players. At 5.15 pm, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman David Morgan goes to the Pakistani dressing room for talks. On the other hand, there is also a conversation with Pakistan team’s match referee Mike Proctor. After this, Pakistani players enter the field at 5.30 pm. However, this time the umpire did not come to the field because now Darrell Hair refused to come to the field. In such a situation, after two minutes the Pakistani players leave the field and return back to the pavilion.
Dare Hare said that as per the rules, if a team refuses to play, then the opposite team is declared the winner. Therefore, now there is no question of starting the match again because the result has been decided. This thing was also told to Pakistani captain Inzamam ul Haq. At 10.30 pm, the International Cricket Council (ICC), ECB and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held a press conference, in which it was told that England has been declared the winner of the match.
Inzamam banned, Hayer filed a case
The ICC later cleared the Pakistan team of ball-tampering charges, but banned Inzamam-ul-Haq for four ODIs for refusing to play in the match. The surprising thing was that after almost two years, ICC changed the result of the match to a draw on the request of PCB. But then after just one year, on the recommendation of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the cricket rule-making body, the ICC took a U-turn and restored the original result. That means the England team was the winner of that test match.
Meanwhile, ICC took a big decision on 4 November 2006 and banned Darrell Hair. One of Hayer’s emails was also leaked. In that email, Hair had asked for 5 lakh US dollars from ICC umpire manager Doug Cowie in exchange for taking premature retirement. According to Hair, ICC itself had asked him to send such an offer in writing. However, ICC termed Hair’s claim as completely false.
On the other hand, in February 2007, Darrell Hair also played the game and filed a case against ICC and PCB accusing them of racial discrimination. Hair argued that no one was saying anything to his fellow umpire Billy Doctrove (West Indies) in that controversial Test match. However, in October 2007, Hare withdrew the case. In March 2008, Hair again got a place in the ICC’s elite panel and he also umpired in two Test matches. However, on August 22 the same year, Hair submitted his resignation to the ICC. Hair’s international umpiring career lasted for about 16 years.