Did rustiness after a break cause Kumar Dharmasena's brain fade at The Oval

Umpire Anil Chaudhary (in pic), a former member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) panel, has come out in support of Kumar Dharmasena after the former Sri Lanka cricketer copped criticism for suggesting an edge through a gesture that possibly helped England save a DRS on the first day of the fifth Test against India at The Oval in London.

Josh Tongue had appealed strongly for a leg-before decision against Sai Sudharsan, who fell on the ground against a yorker-length delivery, but Dharmasena turned it down and flicked his left hand with the index finger of his right hand.

The gesture was criticised heavily as it discouraged England from using the DRS, which if they had used it then, would have resulted in the loss of a review.

Chaudhary, who has umpired in four Test matches, 27 ODIs and 44 T20 Internationals besides a host of IPL games, said that it was unintentional and happened on instinct.

“It was instinctive. It happens to umpires. There was no ill-will. Normally when someone is coming straight from domestic cricket – where there is no DRS, he comes with this habit of explaining to bowlers why he didn’t give the player out,” said Chaudhary to media during the launch of Champions League T20 in Delhi.

This was Dharmasena's first assignment as on-field umpire after the June 3 ODI between England and West Indies. 

On whether Dharmasena will face any sanction for this, he said, “I think it will depend on the referee’s report and there could be some effect on his overall [umpires’] review report at ICC. But I think everyone knows it was unintentional.”

Tags : Kumar Dharmasena, Oval, England, India, Cricket, Sai Sudharsan, Josh Tongue