'Darrell has not done anything wrong' - Johnson

Australia's umpire panel seems interested in Hair

Cricinfo staff

August 31, 2006

Not yet stumps: Darrell Hair could umpire in one-day games in Australia © Getty Images

Mel Johnson, the chairman of Australia's umpire selection panel, said Darrell Hair could still umpire on the international panel in Australia if he is removed from the ICC's elite group following his decisions at The Oval Test between England and Pakistan.

"Darrell has not done anything wrong and, therefore, there is no reason why he couldn't come back on the international panel," Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Unlike the elite panel umpires, who are contracted by the ICC, umpires on the international panel are hired by national boards and can officiate in one-day matches at home as field umpires or as third umpires.

Dick French, a member of Australia's umpire selection panel, said Hair could be appointed by Cricket Australia (CA) just as David Orchard, a South African official, was hired after he lost his place in the elite panel when he moved to Australia. He now stands in domestic matches and one-day games.

"We thought he [Orchard] still had plenty to contribute, especially helping out with the younger umpires coming through, so we went with him," French said. "It's been a good move as far as we're concerned. So there is a precedent there for Darrell to consider. And who's to say that he couldn't work his way all the way back? But we would have to take advice from Cricket Australia before we made any decision on Darrell."

Peter Young, the CA communications director, was more guarded in his comments and said that the issue was "hypothetical".

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