MUMBAI, December 7: This wonderful, exciting and sometimes dramatic Test match finished in an unnecessary anti-climax because the umpires did not interpret the rules correctly. With 12 overs to go and India needing three tail-end wickets to win, I believe the rain came on too heavy and it was fair to Sri Lanka to go off for rain. Thirteen minutes later the rain stopped sufficiently for the umpires to decide that they could not start again because of the poor light.All the playing conditions I have ever seen state that where the light is poor you take into consideration whether there is a serious danger of physical injury to the batsmen. Kumble and Chauhan were bowling at the time and it was obvious they would continue because earlier Tendulkar had been told if he used the faster bowlers the umpires would have left the field of play.But, how in the name of common sense could the slow bowling of those two spinners injure anyone in a minor way, never mind inflict serious physical injury? Almost every batsman comes in to bat with a helmet - many of them a grill on it - arm guards and chest pads. I am 57, haven't batted for 10 years, and I reckon I wouldn't worry about facing those two until I pad only in bad light!!I am a big fan of umpire Steve Bucknor from the West Indies and I felt his partner Indian umpire AV Jayaprakash had a great match with decisions. But when the game of cricket needed them to make the correct decision, they got it wrong and spoilt it for everyone.The other sad aspect is that the match referee cannot interfere with the umpires' decisions. He can only fill in more and more forms to report to his superiors. Yet here is Bob Simpson - former Australian captain and a great opening batsman with a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience - unable to do a thing. What a waste! Think of the advice he could give. I hope the president of ICC, Mr Dalmiya, was watching from Calcutta because here is the perfect opportunity for him to exert his authority and change the situation in that these match referees have the authority to overrule the umpires in case of bad light as well as rain.The ICC also needs to address the rules concerning the way Aravinda de Silva got out. While the batsman was concentrating on the ball in the bowler's hand, the fielder ran backwards to a deeper position. De Silva could not see that happen, hooked the ball to what he felt was a vacant area, only to see Chauhan make a simple catch.Aravinda was rightly furious, partly with the tactic and partly with his colleague Mahanama at the other end. It was the non-striker's responsibility to watch out for his partner and be aware of anything happening on the batsman's blind spot. Mahanama should have noticed what was happening, stopped Srinath in his run up and informed his teammate. He failed to do this and any blame is on him. But this sort of incident can cause bad feeling between players because it is not clear whether everyone should play to the limit of the rules or in the spirit. For my money, it is not cricket.
