Umpire shocker: ‘I’ve never seen that before’

They say don’t argue with the umpire, he won’t change his decision.

But umpire Donovan Koch may have set the wrong sort of precedent by doing just that during Tuesday’s March Cup game between Western Australia and South Australia.

Playing his maiden game for the Redbacks, rookie leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou appeared to have his first List A wicket when he went up with a strong appeal for caught behind off Western Australian batsman Sam Whiteman.

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Koch put his finger up, but only momentarily.

In remarkable scenes, Koch changed his mind before Whiteman, who clearly didn’t hit it, could walk off.

It was only a matter of seconds before Koch crossed his arms and rectified what would have been another howler from an umpire after a bevy of them during the Big Bash League, which created a chorus of calls for the introduction of DRS.

Peter Hatzoglou had his first List-A wicket for South Australia for about 10 seconds before the umpire reversed his decision. Sam Whiteman missed that by a fair way. Correct decision in the end, but can't say I've seen that before. #MarshCup

Peter #MarshCuppic.twitter.com/JSp5vPRWeg

There was little argument from the South Australians, knowing they would have got away with one if Whiteman wasn’t recalled.

In commentary, former Test quicks Stuart Clark and Brett Lee were amazed.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket and I don’t think I‘ve ever seen an umpire change his decision,” Clark said.

Lee said he “couldn’t believe it”.

“He’s fired him and said, ‘I’ve got it wrong’,” he said.

Clark then praised the umpire for correcting his mistake: “I give him complete respect for that because usually you just give them out and panic about it.”

Whiteman was eventually out for 43 with WA piling on a big score.

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