On November 14, 1992 at Kingsmead, Sachin Tendulkar became the first batter in cricket history to be given out by a third umpire. Cyril Mitchley referred a tight run-out call upstairs to Karl Liebenberg, who confirmed Tendulkar was out for 11. The technology era of decision-making had begun.
Television technology had become central to cricket broadcasting in the late 1980s. The ICC had been resisting in-game video referrals; the SuperSport-broadcast 1992-93 series in South Africa was the first authorised trial.
It was the opening Test of South Africa's first home series since readmission. India batted first; Tendulkar had walked in at 38 for 2.
South Africa's tour of India had been only the second time a Test had ever used television replays for run-out decisions; the ICC trial was authorised mid-1992. The first official referral came in the first innings of the Durban Test. Tendulkar was on 11. He played Brian McMillan to point and set off for a single. Jonty Rhodes — already developing the reputation made permanent earlier in the year — picked up clean and threw at the stumps. Tendulkar dived. On-field umpire Cyril Mitchley signalled a 'TV' with his hands, the very first time the gesture was used in international cricket. Karl Liebenberg in the box reviewed the replay and pressed the red button. Out. Tendulkar walked. Within five years third-umpire referrals would be standard for run-outs and stumpings worldwide.
Tendulkar pushes McMillan to point, calls for a quick single
Jonty Rhodes — backward point — picks clean and throws
Tendulkar dives at the bowler's end
Cyril Mitchley signals the box with his fingers — first ever TV referral
Karl Liebenberg sees the bat short of the line — red light
Tendulkar walks for 11; first batter ever given out by replay
November 13, 1992
Test begins at Kingsmead, Durban.
November 14, 1992
Tendulkar 11 — referred upstairs and given out — first ever.
Match drawn
Series ends with South Africa winning 1-0.
“I made history at the wrong end of it. But it was a fair decision.”
“I just pressed the red light. I didn't think I was making history.”
Tendulkar himself later joked he 'made history at the wrong end of it'. The Durban Test was drawn. The third-umpire trial was extended; by 1994 the system was used in every Test-playing nation, and Hawk-Eye, Snicko and the Decision Review System would all eventually trace their lineage back to Liebenberg's red light.
A landmark in cricket administration — the moment the game accepted that the human eye, on its own, was no longer enough.
The Decision Review System, introduced for trial in 2008 and made permanent in 2011, descended directly from the third-umpire concept trialled at Kingsmead. Karl Liebenberg's name appears in every cricket-history book on technology.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.