Bad decisions, DRS failures, and moments where umpires got it spectacularly wrong
67 incidents documented
England vs Australia
28 June - 2 July 2023
Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow after he wandered out of his crease assuming the ball was dead. The dismissal at Lord's caused a furious reaction from the MCC members.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
6 November 2023
Angelo Mathews became the first batsman in international cricket history to be timed out after his helmet strap broke while walking to the crease.
Various IPL Teams
April 2023
Multiple teams were penalized five runs for fake fielding during IPL 2023, with inconsistent enforcement sparking confusion and debate.
India vs Australia
19 November 2023
Several contentious DRS decisions during the 2023 World Cup Final added to India's frustration as they lost to Australia despite being unbeaten throughout the tournament.
India vs Australia
7-11 June 2023
India were penalized for a slow over rate during the WTC Final, continuing a pattern of teams being docked championship points for failing to meet the required overs per day.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan
23 October 2023
A controversial short run call during the 2023 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Pakistan led to Afghan fans accusing the umpires of costing their team the match.
Various IPL Teams
March-May 2023
The introduction of the Impact Player rule in IPL 2023 created confusion about substitution timings and match referee oversight.
India Women vs England Women
24 September 2022
Deepti Sharma ran out Charlie Dean at the non-striker's end to seal an ODI series sweep. The dismissal reignited the Mankad debate globally.
England Women vs India Women
24 September 2022
Deepti Sharma ran out Charlotte Dean at the non-striker's end for backing up too far, sparking a fierce global debate about the spirit of cricket versus the laws of the game.
Australia Women vs England Women
20 January 2022
The multi-format Women's Ashes points system was criticised for effectively allowing Australia to retain the Ashes before the Test match, making the flagship Test feel meaningless.
India vs England
24-25 February 2021
Multiple controversial LBW decisions in the pink-ball Ahmedabad Test that finished inside two days, with questions about ball tracking accuracy on a turning pitch.
India vs England
5-9 March 2021
The on-field umpire's 'soft signal' of out for a Ben Stokes catch that appeared to have been grassed was upheld by the third umpire, sparking fury over the soft signal rule.
England vs Pakistan
5-9 August 2020
Play was stopped for bad light despite the availability of floodlights, frustrating fans and players as Pakistan pushed for a result.
South Africa vs England
January 2020
Confusion arose about whether a ball was dead after a no-ball was bowled and the batsman was hit, leading to debate about free hit procedures.
Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab
20 September 2020
The on-field umpire incorrectly called a short run against Kings XI Punjab that replays showed was completed, potentially costing Punjab the match in the Super Over.
Australia Women vs India Women
8 March 2020
Shafali Verma's stumping off Alyssa Healy's gloves in the T20 World Cup Final was controversial, with questions about whether the ball had been gathered cleanly before the bails were removed.
Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
25 March 2019
R. Ashwin controversially ran out Jos Buttler at the non-striker's end by removing the bails before delivering the ball.
England vs New Zealand
14 July 2019
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena awarded six runs on an overthrow that deflected off Ben Stokes' bat, when the correct call should have been five. The decision may have changed the outcome of the World Cup final.
England vs Australia
1-5 August 2019
Multiple decisions in the 2019 Ashes were upheld as 'umpire's call' despite ball tracking showing the ball hitting the stumps, reigniting the debate about the DRS threshold.
England vs Australia
14-18 August 2019
Marnus Labuschagne replaced Steve Smith as cricket's first concussion substitute after Smith was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer. England questioned whether it was a like-for-like replacement.
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
12 May 2019
Lasith Malinga appeared to overstep on the crucial final over but the no-ball was not called, potentially costing CSK the IPL 2019 title.
England vs Australia
22-25 August 2019
During Ben Stokes' miraculous Headingley chase, Jack Leach survived an LBW appeal that was given 'umpire's call' on review, allowing the legendary partnership to continue.
India vs New Zealand
10 July 2019
MS Dhoni's run out by Martin Guptill's direct hit in the World Cup semi-final was upheld by the third umpire after a close review that many felt could have gone either way.
England vs Australia
25 August 2019
Nathan Lyon dropped a simple chance to run out Ben Stokes at Headingley, and earlier Tim Paine missed a stumping chance that would have ended England's miraculous chase.
Pakistan U19 vs Australia U19
31 January 2018
Pakistan U19 were controversially eliminated from the 2018 U19 World Cup when rain and the DLS method conspired to give Australia a win in the quarter-final under circumstances many felt were deeply unfair.
Australia vs England
November-December 2017
Stuart Broad was again at the centre of a caught-behind controversy in the Ashes, this time in Australia, with DRS technology at the heart of the debate.
India vs England
November 2016
The third umpire failed to check for a front-foot no-ball on a wicket-taking delivery, a standard protocol that was missed. The dismissal stood without the check being made.
Australia vs New Zealand
29 March 2015
Brad Haddin claimed a catch off a bottom edge in the 2015 World Cup Final that was reviewed and given out, with New Zealand questioning whether the ball had carried.
England vs Sri Lanka
June 2014
A controversial five-run penalty was awarded during an England-Sri Lanka Test, sparking debate about when and how penalty runs should be applied.
England vs Sri Lanka
3 June 2014
Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake ran out Jos Buttler at the non-striker's end during an ODI, making Buttler a repeat victim of the controversial dismissal.
West Indies / Kolkata Knight Riders
2014-2015
Sunil Narine's bowling action was reported multiple times, leading to suspensions and modifications to his action that significantly impacted his international career.
England vs Australia
10-14 July 2013
Stuart Broad edged a ball clearly to slip but was given not out. He refused to walk, and Australia had no DRS reviews left.
South Africa vs Pakistan
November 2013
Faf du Plessis was caught on camera applying saliva to the ball while sucking a mint, which constitutes ball tampering. He was fined but not banned.
Australia vs England
12 June 2013
David Warner punched Joe Root in a bar altercation during the Champions Trophy, leading to a suspension that set the tone for a hostile 2013 Ashes series.
England vs Australia
July-August 2013
The Hot Spot infrared technology was shown to be unreliable during the 2013 Ashes, failing to detect clear edges and undermining confidence in DRS.
West Indies vs Australia
2012
Kieron Pollard was given out hit wicket in a controversial decision where it was unclear whether his bat or body dislodged the bails.
England vs South Africa
August 2012
An appeal for obstructing the field was considered during the Lord's Test between England and South Africa, highlighting one of cricket's most rarely invoked Laws.
India vs Pakistan
30 March 2011
Sachin Tendulkar survived multiple contentious decisions in the World Cup semi-final against Pakistan, including a caught-behind appeal that Pakistan chose not to review.
England vs Australia
21-25 July 2011
Ian Bell was run out in bizarre circumstances when he assumed the ball was dead at the tea break, only for India to appeal and the umpires to give him out. MS Dhoni later withdrew the appeal.
India vs Sri Lanka
2 April 2011
Sachin Tendulkar survived an LBW decision via DRS review in the 2011 World Cup Final, with ball tracking showing the ball just missing the stumps.
England vs Australia
8-12 July 2009
England survived the final session with last pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar at the crease. Australia were convinced they had Anderson LBW but the appeal was turned down.
Australia vs India
2-6 January 2008
One of the most controversial Tests ever — terrible umpiring decisions, racial abuse allegations, and India threatening to abandon the tour.
England vs New Zealand
June 2008
Kevin Pietersen's revolutionary switch hit raised questions about LBW law, wide calls, and field placement when a batsman changes from right to left-handed mid-delivery.
Australia vs South Africa
25 April 2007
South Africa's World Cup semi-final against Australia was affected by rain and bad light, with DLS calculations and umpiring decisions combining to produce a controversial result.
England vs Pakistan
17-20 August 2006
Umpire Darrell Hair accused Pakistan of ball tampering. Pakistan refused to take the field after tea, and the match was forfeited — the first forfeiture in Test history.
England vs Pakistan
2006
Inzamam-ul-Haq was given out 'handled the ball' in a Test match after instinctively swatting the ball away from his stumps, one of cricket's rarest dismissals.
England vs Australia
4-7 August 2005
Michael Kasprowicz was given out caught behind in one of the closest Ashes matches ever, but replays suggested his glove was off the bat handle when the ball hit it.
New Zealand vs Australia
13 February 2005
The first-ever T20 International featured debates about the width of the wide line in the shorter format, setting the stage for years of inconsistency in T20 umpiring.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
March 2005
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.
India vs Pakistan
28 March - 1 April 2004
Sachin Tendulkar was controversially declared caught behind for 194 when replays suggested the ball may not have hit his bat, denying him a double century in Pakistan.
India vs England
1 March 2003
Sachin Tendulkar was given out LBW off a ball that appeared to be going well over the stumps, sparking outrage among Indian fans.
Australia vs India
23 March 2003
Ricky Ponting survived a caught-behind appeal early in his innings during the 2003 World Cup Final. He went on to score 140 as Australia demolished India.
India vs Kenya
18 March 2003
Steve Bucknor's umpiring during the 2003 World Cup reinforced his reputation as an umpire who frequently made errors in high-profile matches involving India.
India vs Pakistan
1 March 2003
In the 2003 World Cup India-Pakistan match, Sachin Tendulkar was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar early in his innings, but Pakistan failed to appeal for an LBW earlier, and there were claims Akhtar was overstepping throughout.
India vs Australia
11-15 March 2001
Several contentious LBW decisions went both ways during India's historic follow-on victory against Australia in Kolkata 2001, one of the greatest Tests ever played.
India vs Pakistan
8 June 1999
Sachin Tendulkar was given out caught behind in the high-stakes India-Pakistan World Cup match despite replays suggesting the ball brushed his pad, not bat.
Australia vs South Africa
17 June 1999
Allan Donald was run out in the most dramatic fashion in the 1999 World Cup semi-final, but South Africa argued the initial call by the square leg umpire was premature.
India vs Australia
22 April 1998
In the first of the two Sharjah finals, Sachin Tendulkar was given out LBW to a ball that appeared to be heading down leg. The decision denied fans a potentially historic innings.
India vs Australia
6-10 March 1998
Michael Slater claimed a low catch to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar, but replays suggested the ball had bounced before reaching his hands. The on-field decision was out.
India vs Sri Lanka
13 March 1996
The 1996 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens was effectively decided by the match referee after the crowd rioted when India collapsed in the chase.
Australia vs Sri Lanka
26 December 1995
Umpire Darrell Hair no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan seven times for a suspect bowling action during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, sparking a massive controversy.
England vs Australia
4 June 1993
While not a controversial decision itself, Mike Gatting's utter disbelief at being bowled by Shane Warne's first ball in Ashes cricket highlighted how umpires and batsmen alike were unprepared for extreme spin.
England vs South Africa
22 March 1992
A farcical rain rule calculation left South Africa needing 22 runs off 1 ball in the World Cup semi-final, robbing them of a realistic chance of reaching the final.
India vs Australia
18-22 September 1986
The second-ever tied Test in history featured several close umpiring decisions that could have changed the outcome either way.
Australia vs New Zealand
1 February 1981
Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball underarm along the ground to prevent New Zealand from hitting a six to tie the match.
Australia vs India
7 February 1981
Sunil Gavaskar was given out LBW to Dennis Lillee off a ball that clearly hit his bat first. He was so furious he tried to take his batting partner Chetan Chauhan off the field with him.
Australia vs India
13-17 December 1947
Vinoo Mankad ran out Bill Brown at the non-striker's end during India's tour of Australia, creating a dismissal type that would bear his name for decades.