India vs Australia: Commentator Matthew Hayden lambasts umpire on Arshdeep Singh’s final over

Team India rallied nicely to come from behind and secure a six-run victory over Australia in the fifth match of the T20I series, ultimately clinching the series 4-1. Batting first, India struggled to a sub-par total of 160 at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the bowlers stepped up and defended the total. Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh were the stars in the death overs. While Mukesh ended with figures of 3/32 – Arshdeep contributed with 2 for 40. The latter defended 10 runs off the last over, allowing India to have the last laugh

However, there were a number of interventions from the umpire that did not sit pretty with the Australia team as well as Matthew Hayden – the former Australia opener who was doing the commentary. In the final over of Australia’s chase, the square-leg umpire failed to signal a wide when Arshdeep’s bouncer was clearly above Matthew Wade’s head. Hayden commented, “You can see why he is upset; that’s definitely a wide. Way over his head. It has to be about his position as well. He was standing up on that ball, and it was still over his head.”

Later in the same over, the umpire accidentally got hit by a Nathan Ellis strike. Hayden said, “The umpire has done his job for the second time this over. Have a look at this. This time, it’s the one in front, not on square. They are tag-teaming here.” This was an error that was unforced by the umpire and hence, this comment from Hayden irked viewers who were not happy with the narrative being set.

One user said that it was “pathetic from a commentator,” emphasizing that, at best, it would have been a couple of runs, not a significant matter.

While Hayden made a valid point regarding the wide call, his comments aimed at the umpire for ‘stopping the ball’ was entirely uncalled for. Suryakumar Yadav had placed the fielder at long on extremely straight and even if the ball had missed the umpire, it would just have been a single.

source: hello magazine .com