| Umpires thought Pakistan no-balls were a tactic to intimidate Trott • Tony Hill and Billy Bowden never suspected spot-fixing• We thought bowlers were trying to get an advantageThe New Zealand umpire Tony Hill said he and his colleague Billy Bowden had thought Pakistan bowlers were deliberately bowling no-balls during last month's Fourth Test against England at Lord's but did not suspect a betting motive.Hill said in today's Wellington's Dominion-Post newspaper that they thought the no-balls bowled by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were deliberate but only a tactic to intimidate the batsman Jonathan Trott.Neither Hill nor Bowden suspected "spot-fixing", in which bettors gamble on specific incidents within a match. Hill said he and Bowden had discussed the obvious no-balls during breaks in play.It was not until after stumps on the third day of the match that Hill and Bowden were told the News of the World had exposed an apparent betting scandal involving Amir, Asif and the Pakistan captain, Salman Butt. The newspaper alleged the players bowled no-balls at specified times in the match at the behest of gamblers.Amir and Asif are under investigation by British police and the International Cricket Council over their possible involvement with bookmakers and participation in spot-fixing."We never suspected a thing," Hill said. "There had been the big overstep in particular and in our minds that was more a deliberate overstep to have a go at Trott, who had been batting so well."Billy and I chatted about that and thought it seemed deliberate, especially as it was dropped in short. But it all seemed to be one of those things that fast bowlers have been known to do to get an advantage."Hill umpired at the end where Asif bowled while Bowden stood at Amir's end, where the bowler delivered a more obvious no-ball."The one at my end, from Asif, was not a helluva lot over," Hill said. "He is generally pretty accurate [with his front foot]. It is the Glenn McGrath-type thing, where the foot comes down always in the same spot. When it alters slightly you think it is unusual but, like McGrath, or anyone when they try harder, [they] can occasionally go over."Hill and Bowden were called to meetings with ICC officials after the third day at which the allegations contained in the News of the World were explained."As the story was breaking we were being kept up to speed," Hill said. "So rather than hitting the sack at 8.30pm, as you tend to before another full day's play, we were still up at 10.30 making sure we knew what was going on and what may or may not happen the next day. We had to make sure we had our head around all the circumstances that might turn up. It was quite weird."England won the match early on the fourth day and Hill said the atmosphere as the game wound up was "eerie"."It was very quiet out there," he said. "Both teams were very quiet. You always expected something to be said out there but it wasn't. They just got on with playing the game. From our point of view it was a matter of trying to concentrate like hell, so we weren't caught up in the moment."I was expecting a few verbals but thankfully both sides concentrated on the cricket side of things. It was almost quiet."Hill said betting allegations had soured the experience of his first Test at Lord's. "It was a special place but it ended up being a game that will be remembered but not for the right reasons," he said.Pakistan cricket betting scandalPakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Playoffs add millions to Twins’ lucrative season The Minnesota Twins’ playoff appearance will generate millions of additional dollars for the team, capping off an already record-breaking inaugural season at Target Field. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Workforce eyes Breeders' Cup Turf run • Derby and Arc winner is favourite to win in US next month• Workforce in good shape today despite 'rough race'Connections of Workforce will see how their star colt is over the next fortnight before deciding on whether to have a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf.The Derby winner, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, bounced back to form after his flop in the King George at Ascot to land the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp yesterday and is now favourite to win in America at Churchill Downs next month."The horse trotted out fine this morning," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to the owner Khalid Abdullah. "It was quite a rough race but Ryan negotiated a very good passage for him. He showed plenty of courage and brilliance to quicken at the right time."It [the plan] is to be decided. The Breeders' Cup could be a possible, but we'll have to see how he is over the next couple of weeks. We will have to wait and see about next year."Breeders' CupPrix de l'Arc de TriompheSir Michael StouteHorse racingguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Stubhub price for Phillies NLCS tickets up from last year The hunt for Phillies playoffs tickets is, not surprisingly, heating up. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Phillies fall short of third straight World Series appearance Ryan Howard can watch the World Series the same way he looked at the final pitch of the NLCS. Without even swinging his bat. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |