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They say don’t argue with the umpire, he won‘t change his decision.
But umpire Donovan Koch may have set the wrong sort of precedent by doing just that during the one-day game between Western Australia and South Australia on Tuesday.
Playing his first game for the Redbacks, rookie leg-spinner and Big Bash cult hero Peter Hatzoglou appeared to have his first List A wicket when he went up with a strong appeal for caught behind off Western Australian batsman Sam Whiteman.
Koch put his finger up, but only momentarily.
In remarkable scenes two former Test fast bowlers said they had never witnessed, Koch changed his mind before Whiteman, who clearly didn’t hit it, could walk off.
It was only a matter of seconds before Koch crossed his arms and rectified what would have been another howler from an umpire after a bevy of them during the Big Bash that created a chorus of calls for the introduction of DRS.
There was little argument from the South Australians, knowing they would have got away with one if Whiteman wasn’t recalled.
In commentary, former Test quicks Stuart Clark and Brett Lee were amazed.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket and I don’t think I‘ve ever seen an umpire change his decision,” Clark said.
Lee said he “couldn’t believe it”.
“He’s fired him and said, ‘I’ve got it wrong’,” he said.
Clark then praised the umpire for correcting his mistake.
“I give him complete respect for that because usually you just give them out and panic about it,” he said.
Whiteman was eventually out for 43 with Western Australia piling on a big score.
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