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Hair, Bucknor, Harper, Asoka were often the centre of controversy, but they pale in comparison when pitted against Tony Crafter.
Crafter was born on this day, 1940.
And while he was controversial, it cannot be denied that Crafter was also a brave man.
You can see him here.
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Crafter was born on this day, 1940.
And while he was controversial, it cannot be denied that Crafter was also a brave man.
You can see him here.
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Clearly he put himself at serious physical risk – though I am not sure whether he knew what was happening behind him.
But a bit on Crafter's career (and a proper photograph) first.
His had stood in 33 Tests and 84 ODIs when he retired – records for Australia in either format.
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But a bit on Crafter's career (and a proper photograph) first.
His had stood in 33 Tests and 84 ODIs when he retired – records for Australia in either format.
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Lillee called Crafter one of the four best Australian umpires he had seen (along with Col Egar, Peter McConnell, and Mel Johnson).
Now for the controversies.
Crafter and Donald Wesser both debuted in the Sydney Test of the 1978-79 Ashes.
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Now for the controversies.
Crafter and Donald Wesser both debuted in the Sydney Test of the 1978-79 Ashes.
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In the first three innings, Boycott and Randall were run out controversially, Gooch survived despite being out, and Hilditch was ruled out despite the edge not carrying.
Once all that was done, England needed only 34 to win.
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Once all that was done, England needed only 34 to win.
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Australian captain Yallop decided to open with his spinners, Yardley and Higgs.
Yallop also somehow convinced (bullied?) the debutant umpires to allow him to start with an old ball.
Now this was strictly against the rules.
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Yallop also somehow convinced (bullied?) the debutant umpires to allow him to start with an old ball.
Now this was strictly against the rules.
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But by the time England manager Doug Insole found out that Law 5 had been violated, England were already 12/0.
The match continued, but the media had a field day.
In Crafter's second Test, Sikander Bakht was Mankaded and Hilditch given out handling the ball.
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The match continued, but the media had a field day.
In Crafter's second Test, Sikander Bakht was Mankaded and Hilditch given out handling the ball.
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Crafter could hardly be blamed for this, but he somehow managed to find himself at the heart of it.
This was followed by the Miandad-Lillee incident (photograph in first tweet).
Why did Crafter step in?
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This was followed by the Miandad-Lillee incident (photograph in first tweet).
Why did Crafter step in?
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"I just remember the players coming together and I knew I had to get them apart. I know it's an unusual thing to happen on a cricket field, but it was almost like a reflex action."
On another occasion, Botham tried to hit Lawson and the ball went to Marsh.
They appealed.
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On another occasion, Botham tried to hit Lawson and the ball went to Marsh.
They appealed.
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Crafter said no.
It was also the end of the over, so he gave Lawson his hat back.
Then he walked to Johnson, the other umpire.
Following a discussion, Crafter ruled Botham out as the fielders crossed over.
Botham's response was not the politest.
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It was also the end of the over, so he gave Lawson his hat back.
Then he walked to Johnson, the other umpire.
Following a discussion, Crafter ruled Botham out as the fielders crossed over.
Botham's response was not the politest.
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In another Test against Pakistan, he gave debutant Greg Matthews wrongly out leg-before.
Matthews expressed his discontent, indicating the bat where the ball had hit before the pad.
He had to write an apology to Crafter next day.
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Matthews expressed his discontent, indicating the bat where the ball had hit before the pad.
He had to write an apology to Crafter next day.
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In a Benson & Hedges World Series match, Bill Athey caught Rameez Raja off Gatting.
But Crafter had already signalled no-ball.
Rameez, oblivious to the call, started walking away.
Athey threw the ball to Jack Richards, who broke the stumps.
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But Crafter had already signalled no-ball.
Rameez, oblivious to the call, started walking away.
Athey threw the ball to Jack Richards, who broke the stumps.
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Crafter and Dick French consulted, then ruled Rameez out.
This was strictly against Law 38(2).
Wisden was not kind: "Rarely as such an eventuality arises, two Test umpires should have known the Law."
Then, in the 1987 World Cup, Crafter did the unthinkable at Rawalpindi.
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This was strictly against Law 38(2).
Wisden was not kind: "Rarely as such an eventuality arises, two Test umpires should have known the Law."
Then, in the 1987 World Cup, Crafter did the unthinkable at Rawalpindi.
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He became the first non-Pakistani umpire to rule Miandad leg-before on Pakistani soil.
The crowd "went so deathly quiet".
In another Ashes Test, wicketkeeper Greg Dyer claimed to have caught Andrew Jones off McDermott down the leg.
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The crowd "went so deathly quiet".
In another Ashes Test, wicketkeeper Greg Dyer claimed to have caught Andrew Jones off McDermott down the leg.
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As the television cameras revealed, Dyer had picked up the ball from the ground.
But Crafter had given him out even after consulting with French (again!).
Later that season, Lillee abused Crafter so much during a Sheffield Shield match that he had to be fined $300.
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But Crafter had given him out even after consulting with French (again!).
Later that season, Lillee abused Crafter so much during a Sheffield Shield match that he had to be fined $300.
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Crafter managed to ruffle more feathers by warning Marshall and Ambrose for bowling too many bouncers.
"I thought he must be ill... he's supposed to be the senior umpire," wrote Clive Lloyd in his manager's report.
Crafter was later appointed Australian umpiring manager.
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"I thought he must be ill... he's supposed to be the senior umpire," wrote Clive Lloyd in his manager's report.
Crafter was later appointed Australian umpiring manager.
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Soon afterwards, he reduced the size of the Australian international umpires' panel drastically from thirteen to six – expectedly drawing more controversy.
And finally, he stood firmly behind Emerson after the latter no-balled Murali.
And finally, he stood firmly behind Emerson after the latter no-balled Murali.
