Holding calls for ban on Broad for 'refusal to walk'

Former West Indies bowler Michael Holding has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban England's Stuart Broad for his refusal to walk after being caught out on the day three of the first Ashes Test.

According to the Mirror, Broad sparked a heated debate by standing his ground after he clearly edged a ball from Australian Ashton Agar and was caught by captain Michael Clarke at slip, although umpire Aleem Dar failed to spot the nick and gave him not out.

Slamming Broad for trampling over the spirit of cricket, the Caribbean legend said that he believes that Broad's crime is the same as that of West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who claimed a catch after the ball had fallen to the ground during the ICC Champions Trophy and was banned by Broad's father Chris Broad, an ICC match referee.

Stating that the ICC had fined Ramdin and suspended him for “actions that were contrary to the spirit of the game”, Holding further said that Broad's actions is also contrary to the spirit of the game as he had played the ball and stayed on the crease, for which he should be banned by the ICC.

Meanwhile, Australian spin legend Shane Warne expressed his anger at Dar's decision, tweeting that he is not a good umpire as he always gets the crucial decisions wrong, adding that even though it is a tough job being an umpire, Dar's repeated mistakes should keep him out of a job.

However, Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle was more relaxed about the decision, saying that not many players have walked despite getting out, adding that they have to accept the umpires' decision.

But, Broad received the backing of his team-mates and others in the game for merely waiting for Dar to make a decision, although the report said that he was lucky that his actions did not get rectified by the decision review system (DRS) as Australia had already used up two failed reviews and had none left.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who made 64 as England finished the day at 326-6 -- a lead of 261 runs, stressed on the proper and careful use of the DRS, saying that every player has the opportunity to wait for the decision the umpire makes, after which they have to respect the decision.

Pietersen further said that his team played hard and fair, adding that each individual has the responsibility and makes a judgment if he will wait for the umpire's decision.

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