Cricket Australia comment on Darrell Hair decision

Cricket Australia today called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review its management of umpires to ensure transparent, procedural fairness in appointment of umpires and to explain the reasons for Darrell Hair being stood down as a member of the ICC Elite Panel.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said public confidence in the objectivity of umpiring, and in the ability of umpires to make professional decisions without fear or favour, was one of the key issues underpinning cricket’s ambition to become a credible world sport.

“We don’t agree with the ICC’s decision and are concerned about the implications which could see international umpires concerned about off field consequences of calling decisions as they see them,” said Mr Sutherland.

He said Cricket Australia believed Hair was still one of the best umpires in the world – but more important, Cricket Australia believed that appropriate processes should be followed should there be performance concerns about umpires.

“World cricket needs champion cricketers, but it also needs world-class umpires who are equivalently skilled at what they do. To aspire to these heights, those umpires need to have confidence in the system - that they are supported by best-practice administration and processes,” he said.

Mr Sutherland said Cricket Australia regarded umpire Hair as one of the best umpires in the world and, if available, would welcome him back to umpire Australian interstate cricket in the Pura Cup and Ford Ranger Cup competitions.

In other news, A limited number of remaining tickets to the Ashes Series and Twenty20 International will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday (November 8).

Tickets still remain to days 2-4 of the First Ashes Test at the Gabba and also to days 2–4 of the Fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.

A total of 1,600 tickets also still remain to the Twenty20 International between Australia and England at the SCG on 9 January.

Approximately 2,000 tickets are still available (as part of the original ticket allocation) to day five of the Second Ashes Test in Adelaide and are available for purchase now.

Tickets will go on sale to the matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from 10am AEDT on Wednesday.

Tickets are available on the internet, over the phone, or through outlets via the ticket agency in the state where the matches are to be played.