On this day: The first-ever forfeited Test match
In 143 years of Test cricket, there have been only two tied Test matches. An even rare occurrence took place at The Oval in 2006 as cricket witnessed its first-ever forfeited Test match. On 20th August 2006, the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan proved to be the last day of the match. The Pakistani Test side and the umpires Darryl Hair and Billy Doctrove played the major role in this acrimonious incident.
No show after tea
Choosing to bowl first, Pakistani pacers had a field day against English batsmen. Only three batsmen went beyond a score of 30 as Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul picked four wickets each. In reply, Pakistan posted a massive total of 504 runs in their only innings with Mohammad Yousuf (128), Mohammad Hafeez (95), and Imran Farhat (91) plundering runs. It was England’s second innings that proved to be controversial.
In the second session of the fourth day, the umpires decided to penalize Pakistan by five runs as they suspected ball-tampering. The ball was changed and play resumed as the Pakistani team was not sure how to respond to this allegation. They, however, concluded the tea break.
The Pakistani team refused to take the field after the tea break. Both umpires and batsmen walked out on the ground but the fielding side did not join them. The discussions went on in the Pakistani dressing room but to no avail. Eventually, according to the law 16.3.1.2, the umpires awarded the match to England as Pakistan had forfeited the game. Later, the visitors agreed to play the match but the umpires refused to revert their decision. England were declared as the winners of the match.
The controversy goes on
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was acquitted of ball-tampering charges but was banned for four ODIs for bringing the game into disrepute. The ICC banned umpire Darryl Hair. He had to be reinstated after Hair took legal action against the ICC and PCB. Hair was restored to the Elite Umpiring Panel in 2008 but he resigned five months later.
The result of this fourth Test match was later changed by the ICC as a drawn Test but it was then reverted to an English victory at MCC’s recommendation. It remains the only forfeited Test match in cricket’s history.
