He was the man shown to be run out after Emerson failed to consult the third umpire.Sri Lanka kept losing wickets, the atmosphere was tense and the behaviour dreadful Finally, Muralitharan was there batting They needed one to win Three balls left Destiny was screaming He got just enough bat on Vince Wells’s delivery Murali deserved that In the ruckus he had shown spirit and guts. England made 302 for 3 in 50 overs having been 94 for 1 when Emerson made his historic intervention. Graeme Hick scored a sublimely judged hundred, which included four sixes, three of which were hoisted off Murali. If they support the umpire’s judgement, Murali must be sent for remedial action, if not then Emerson must be.And the game? Well, that was a humdinger. Fifty years ago Murali might have been called but the slow motion replays available today confirm only that his action is unusual and beautifully supple, not that it is illegal.The least the ICC can do is act quickly by convening its illegal deliveries panel But there was no immediate sign of that.

All these nine good men must do (Doug Insole is the England delegate, Michael Holding the West Indies’ one) is adjudicate on the ball Emerson declared with such a fanfare was illegal. Those who claim to be able to judge such fine points now say his top spinner is suspect, though it was not one of those for which Emerson called Some say that all finger spinners must chuck the odd one. He has been under unfair, whispered scrutiny here for a month. Having been so certain in making the biggest call it is possible to make, he proceeded to mess up smaller matters – allowing too many balls in an over, signalling a six when it was four, failing to call for the third umpire when a man was shown to be run out – which is not the way round it should be.As for poor Muralitharan, he is showing an admirable depth of character and will. Ranatunga then put Murali on at Emerson’s end but persuaded the umpire, against his wishes, to stand close to the stumps so he could not see the bowler from the rear and therefore call him again.It was clear at this point and later that Emerson, despite a statement picked up by the stump microphone, was not in control. Emerson had called the bowler seven times in a match on Sri Lanka’s previous tour three years ago, then from the bowler’s end. Since then, no other umpire has called him as his worldwide reputation has increased.

Emerson’s action seems at the least to have been pre-meditated.The reaction was indignant. Ian Botham said in his telling television commentary that it was bizarre, unnecessary and one man’s moment of glory – and he did not mean Murali. “When the umpire makes a decision you accept it and get on with the game.”That is for sure, but the calling of a bowler for throwing is an eerie and breathtaking moment. It is a form of humiliation which only those who have been birched publicly might comprehend. Ranatunga, the general, was protecting his player, one of his key troops.

It contradicted the game’s spirit and laws but in its way it was touching. Nowhere but in Australia, he seemed to be saying.Muralitharan had bowled nine balls when the call came from Emerson at square leg It had developed into an open secret that this might happen. Cadaverous sprang to mind considering the mess cricket had been put in. He was doubtless disappointed to have lost a close, tense, high-scoring game and maybe disappointed with himself. But he was disingenuous both in suggesting the pushing incident in which he was involved was merely a brushing of shoulders and in his judgement on Ranatunga’s ruck with the umpire. While Stewart’s was not a sacking offence, it was especially unnecessary given his position.