Billy Bowden gave a controversial LBW decision that was criticized for being rushed, with the ball appearing to be missing the stumps by some margin.
During the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, home umpire Billy Bowden gave a contentious LBW decision that drew significant criticism. The Sri Lankan batsman was struck on the pad, and Bowden raised his famous crooked finger quickly.
Replays suggested the ball was missing the stumps, either going over or passing leg side. The speed of Bowden's decision — raising his finger almost instantly — suggested he had made up his mind before fully processing the trajectory.
The incident was one of several that year that fueled the debate about home umpires. When umpires officiate in their own country, there is always a perception — fair or not — of bias. The ICC was already moving towards appointing neutral umpires for all international matches.
The controversy contributed to the ICC's eventual policy of using only neutral umpires in international cricket, a decision that helped improve the perception of impartiality even if it didn't eliminate errors entirely.
Incorrect decision. The incident contributed to the push for neutral umpires in all international cricket.
Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals
29 May 2026
The Qualifier 2 toss between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur had to be conducted twice after match referee Prakash Bhatt failed to hear Riyan Parag's call — a visible frustration for Shubman Gill who appeared to have won the original toss before the do-over.
Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders
26 April 2026
Kartik Tyagi bowled two beamers in the final over of LSG's chase but was allowed to continue — umpires called only one dangerous — sparking IPL fury.
Various county and representative sides
1864-06-01
The legalisation of overarm bowling in 1864 created an immediate grey zone: how high could the arm go, and at what point did a fast delivery become an illegal throw? Through the 1860s English cricket struggled with this question as a succession of fast bowlers developed actions that umpires suspected but rarely no-balled, creating a climate of suspicion that would recur in every generation of cricket thereafter.