Shane Warne has called umpire Billy Bowden a “muppet” for his decision to signal ‘dead ball’ rather than award him a leg bye during the last hours of the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2005.
Every run was crucial, with England eventually securing victory by a mere two runs, and during the 51st over, bowled by Andrew Flintoff, Warne felt Australia should have had an extra single added to the tally. The leg-spinner backed away outside leg stump and wafted, missing the ball by a distance but running through after being struck on the pad, but with Bowden ruling he was neither playing a shot or taking evasive action, the run was struck off.
Speaking on a Sky Sports Watchalong of the Edgbaston finale, Warne criticised Bowden for the decision, while also having a pop at the umpire’s signature ‘out’ gesture. “Billy, Jeez. I so much wanted to go up and straighten that finger of his, I reckon he just put that on. Seriously, it wasn’t about you Billy. Seriously, dead ball? I didn’t play a shot at that? You muppet.”
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Warne was initially worried that Bowden’s call had worse repercussions, keeping him on strike and meaning he was dismissed soon after. “I don’t get out this ball do I? It’s Billy’s fault!” he said.
But Sky Sports pundit Rob Key assuaged Warne’s concerns. “You don’t get out this ball I think,” he said, although neither he or Brett Lee was able to turn the strike over before Warne was dismissed hit wicket by Flintoff nine balls later.
