You did nothing wrong, so you're fired.

What's this? Yes, it's another Hair piece.

In the continuing case of Big Darrell H vs the ICC, Sir John Anderson, of the New Zealand cricket board, told a London employment tribunal today that Hair did not face an ICC disciplinary procedure after the 2006 Brit Oval Test was awarded to England because it would probably have found he did nothing wrong. Not that that stopped the ICC from passing a resolution of no confidence in the Australian.

Anderson denied Hair's claim that he had been racially discriminated against, however, repeating the line that Hair, as a senior umpire (albeit an unofficially recognised rather than legally stipulated one), had been responsible for ensuring that the match continued.

"Darrell's race was not mentioned at all during the board's discussion and I have no doubt that Darrell's race did not influence any of the directors to agree to my proposal. Like me, everyone was concerned about protecting the game of cricket," Anderson said.

The New Zealander also admitted that his proposal to keep Hair on the elite umpires' panel but not to send him to any international matches, which had been cooked up over a 45-minute sandwich break with the Pakistan and Zimbabwe representatives, was accepted by the ICC board after less than five minutes' discussion.

Comments

[Paul Garwood]

Patrick, have been gently surfing cricket bits (and I always read your columns with interest - I loved the Gooch hero worship piece in TWC!) and have found that you visited Burge Wines in South Australia. The lad Trent played for us at Mistley this summer. A charming guy, and his old man shipped loads of wine over too! Hows it all going with you?

[Rusty]

Anderson basically admitted he stitched up Hair because, in following the rules of the game to the letter, Hair was not umpiring in the spirit of game.
If that doesn't sum up the ICC to a tee, I don't know what does. It's not about the game, its about protecting ICC heavies. And who better for a kangaroo court than Pakistan and Zimbabwe (!!), two nations with spotless records for non-discrimination and impartiality at all levels, and Kiwi who showed his obvious racial bias by dragging in, inaccurately, an old grudge to colour his case. Pakistan and Zimbabwe know all about old, and new grudges, and would recognize that such things always hold a place in playing with the "spirit of cricket". Obviously, Kiwis have now joined the club.

So, knowing that in the eyes of the law you had no leg to stand on, the ICC destroy someone's reputation instead in the time old manner of a stab in the back.

Well done, old chaps!! Now, that's cricket!