Darrell Hair Reinstated

Actually first heard this while listening to BBC World Service on shortwave. The Pakistani's are not pleased at all.

Darrell Hair will return to umpiring in Tests and ODIs after the ICC decided that he had successfully completed a six-month rehabilitation period. Hair has not stood in a major match since the Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 when he and Billy Doctrove penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering, which led to the game being abandoned.

It seems unlikely he will be given matches in Pakistan.

SHOCKER: Symonds: I was out

The umps got it wrong?!? Nah, it can't be....
Symonds went 137no today, and led the charge for Australia 376/7. At 134/6 the Aussies were struggling, and Steve Bucknor gave Symonds an iffy call when Ishant Sharma seemed to get Symonds at 30. Then on 48, Bruce Oxenford turned down a stumping appeal from Anil Kumble.

"I was very lucky. I was out when I was 30, given not out," said Symonds.

"That's cricket though. I can sit here and tell you about my bad decisions as well, but I won't. That's the game. It's just one of those things."

We start the year with umpire controversy, whodathunkit!?!?