Murder

There has been a murder in cricket. I am not talking about some test series where some team beat some other team and the former became World’s Number 1 team.

I am talking about the Adelaide Test.

Here are the details of the crime:

Victim: Mark Benson

Prime Suspect: Umpiring Decision Review System or UDRS in geek

Other Suspects/Accomplices: Ricky Ponting,  Asad Rauf, Shivnaraine, Chanderpaul and the ICC

What it has been made out to be, by Mark Benson
The Umpire gave Chanderpaul not out on two caught behind appeals, both of which were referred upstairs by Ricky i-don’t-trust-field-umpires Ponting. The guy upstairs, Asad Rauf, agreed with Benson one the first occasion, and despite not having enough proof, gave Chanderpaul out on the second instance.

This infuriated Benson decided that this was it. All the work he had put into being an accurate umpire was under scrutiny. His facebook wall was peppered with criticism and brickbats. Asad Rauf escaped this fate as he is yet to open a Facebook account.

Disclaimer: the following information is made up. You knew that of course!

What actually happened?
Before the day’s play, Benson had a wager with Rauf. Here is how the conversation went:

MB: Hey Rolfy, I say you don’t have the balls to give an incorrect decision when it is referred by Ponting

AR: What do you mean? Of course I have the balls. I just won’t do anything wrong on purpose

MB: LOL ROLFY… I reiterate. You lack the guts required for such an act. What if I said I would pay you a 100 Grands?

AR: No. I love this game.

MB: What if I said I would retire if you did it?

AR: Now we are talking.

MB: Deal!

AR: Deal!

And the rest, as they say, is today’s news.