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Hazlewood charged with dissent after outburst against third umpire

by Andrew Wood Tuesday 23 February 2016

Josh Hazlewood picked three wickets in the second Test against New Zealand.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been charged with dissent after he was caught swearing on the stump microphone against a third umpire decision on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand.

The incident happened in the 73rd over of New Zealand's second innings when Kane Williamson failed to negotiate a yorker from Hazlewood and was struck on the pads, prompting an lbw appeal from Australia.

The on-field umpire turned down the appeal following which Australia reviewed the decision unsuccessfully as the third umpire deemed a mark on the Hot Spot as an edge.

The third umpire Richard Illingworth did not ask for the snickometer replays and asked the on-field umpire to stay with his original decision.

The Australian players led by their skipper Steven Smith were of the view that the mark on the Hot Spot was the bat hitting the boot and swarmed the on-field umpire to voice their concerns over the third umpire's decision.

It was during these moments that the stump microphone caught Hazlewood’s outburst and the 25-year-old is most likely to receive a fine for his actions.

Hazlewood also went on to have a few heated exchanges with the non-striker Corey Anderson at the end of the session prompting the substitute fielder Glenn Maxwell to pull the fast-bowler away.

Former Australian opener Chris Rogers termed the incident unfortunate and hopes that it will be a learning curve for Smith as a captain.

“It’s unfortunate because these guys are so invested in the game, they’re trying so hard and they just forget they have to watch themselves in that situation,” Rogers told Optus Sport’s Across the Ditch.

“(Steve Smith is) the leader and he has to be aware of it, but he’s very early on in his captaincy and he’ll be learning as well.

“This will all be an experience for him.

“He’ll know better next time.

“He’s been on tour a while now, he’s probably a little bit tired, he just wants to win badly.

“We love the passion; we want players to show that passion.”

New Zealand’s Anderson however did not read too much into the incident and said that it was a part and parcel of the game when the bowlers are trying hard to get wickets.

“It was one of those ones where it’s so close you don’t know sometimes whether you’ve whacked your foot or if you’ve whacked the ball,” Anderson said.

“I know from the big screen there’s a few bits and pieces that are harder to tell.

“I know there was one yesterday with Joe Burns that we thought nicked the glove and it was turned down.

“Once you go back in the sheds and see what has actually happened, it’s a lot clearer.

“It’s always one of those things.

“We’ve been on the end of those where you want a wicket so badly and you want something to happen in the game and it doesn’t quite go your way.

“It’s part of it. It’s happened before and it’ll happen again.”

Australia went on to bowl New Zealand out for 335 runs and were positioned at 70 for one at the end of play on day four while chasing a target of 201 runs.