This is one record Sourav Ganguly wouldn't want in the showcase back home, even if he is desperate to mark his return to world cricket. But this morning, thanks to an umpiring goof-up, the former captain came within one appeal of becoming the first international cricketer to be timed out.In a curious drama spread over six minutes during the third over of the day, Team India were scrambling to send a batsman out after losing their first two wickets in the space of three balls, three minutes. It was finally a request from umpire Daryl Harper to South African skipper Graeme Smith not to appeal due to the “unforeseen circumstances”, and keeping in mind the “spirit of the game”, that saved Ganguly.What were these unforeseen circumstances? After India lost Virender Sehwag, their first wicket, at 10.43 am, 13 minutes after the fourth day’s play started, Harper and colleague Asad Rauf realised that India’s No 4 bat Sachin Tendulkar couldn't bat till 10.48am. This, said officials, was to compensate for the time he spent off the field yesterday.So, just as Rahul Dravid was walking in at No 3, the Tendulkar message was frantically passed on to fourth umpire Murray Brown, and onward to the Indian dressing room — at 10.42 am. The next minute, the other opener Jaffer got out.That left Tendulkar padded up and nowhere to go, the No 5 Laxman in the ‘restroom’, and the Indian dressing room in chaos. The minutes ticking, the South Africans making dangerous noises, embarrassment spreading, coach Greg Chappell asked Ganguly to pad up — quickly.Finally, by the time the left-hander hurried out into the middle, six minutes were gone, well over the three-minute limit after which any umpire could use his discretion and rule the batsman out, if he felt the delay was “wilful”. But obviously, in this case, Ganguly was allowed to bat, and he took guard two minutes later to a huge sigh of relief.But still, isn’t it surprising that an international team couldn't have their next two batsmen in a state of semi-readiness after the second wicket fell? Was Laxman actually at the wrong place at the wrong time, or was it a last-minute change in strategy to send in a left-hander to disrupt the rhythm of the South Africans? Questions, questions.
