Dhoni douses ‘missing ball’ controversy

Thursday, 16 February 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Indian captain MS Dhoni has doused controversy about a `missing ball’ umpiring blunder that cost his side victory in Tuesday night’s dramatic tie against Sri Lanka.

India’s batsmen faced one less ball than they should have in the Adelaide Oval thriller, with their 30th over containing just five deliveries.

The mistake proved crucial as India finished their run chase at 9-236 - the same score as the Sri Lankans.

But Dhoni distanced the Indians from any complaint.

“It’s done and dusted, that is what is important,” Dhoni said.

“We can create a big fuss out of it, but what is the point?”

The error was extraordinary, given it passed by both umpires on the field, a third umpire in the grandstand and a match referee.

“We have seen in the past, we have bowled an over and almost changed sides (ends) and the third umpire interferes and says `OK, you have to bowl one more ball in this particular over’,” Dhoni said.

“It didn’t happen in this game.

“I don’t know why.

“But we don’t really want to create a controversy out of it, nothing can be done right now.”

While Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said with a smile, “I’m not complaining,” Dhoni said he wouldn’t lodge an official protest.

The Indian captain needed to hit the last ball of the match for four to give India a win - but his lofted cover drive was saved on the fence as the batsmen ran three runs, which tied the match.

Dhoni linked the `missing ball’ howler to his refusal to allow India to use the Decision Review System (DRS).

“If it (a five-ball over) can happen, then I don’t know why people back DRS so much,” he said.

“We have seen people really being happy with DRS in one series when it goes in their favour and if it doesn’t go in their favour, they’re unhappy about it.

“... two umpires in the middle, a third umpire, and a match referee and the scorer - if it (a five-ball over) does still happen, it’s better off accepting it because as humans they are bound to make mistakes.

“It’s a controversy that is right there - we don’t really want to get into anything like that, just stick to the result that has happened.

“Hopefully it won’t be repeated with us or any other side.”