For your delectation and delight - here is Jonathan Agnew and what he said (apparently) about the retroactive award of a draw to Pakistan earlier this week (viz-a-viz the controversial Test v England at the Oval in 2006):
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said the move would open up “an absolutely enormous can of worms”.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The Pakistanis were accused of ball tampering and they did not come out to play.
“The umpires went into their room and said ‘You must come out to continue the game’, they did not and, under the laws of any sport, if you refuse to play, you lose the game.”
“Match abandoned, they’re saying, as a draw, - well, abandoned on what grounds? It wasn’t the weather, it wasn’t anything else, it was that Pakistan wouldn’t come out to play for whatever reason.
“That game has now been classified as a draw, so if you’re losing, you sit in the dressing room, don’t come out and you can get away with a draw.”
I'm preserving this - because I heard him say it (3rd July 2008 - PM-ish), but all traces of this part of the interview was removed from the Beeb website - perhaps because it caused offence. Whatever. I'm one of those that believe that the umpire is the final authority - at least at the crease.
There are a few things that I wish I could change retroactively: - a) if I were prettier I would have the ... I can't believe that I've come to terms with not being attractive!!!
The ump's word is law. Full stop. (even if he is sh*te)
