 Bird umpired in 66 Tests |
Former Test umpire Dickie Bird has described the ongoing ball-tampering row as "the most controversial incident in my 50 years in cricket". Bird said: "I am absolutely shocked and stunned to hear what is happening and it all takes some believing.
"There have been controversies going back through the history of cricket and the closest would be 'Bodyline' in 1933 - but never anything like this.
"It is a very sad time for cricket and our great game has been badly hurt."
In the Bodyline series in 1932-33, England were criticised for their tactics of bowling short balls directly at the Australian batsmen's bodies.
However, Bird is confident that the sport will bounce back from this latest controversy.
"As in the past, I am sure it will eventually get over it," said the retired umpire, who officiated in 66 Tests before his retirement in 1996.
"It is my regret that it ever came to this in the first place.
"Everybody should have used a little bit of common sense, tried to finish the Test match then thrashed it out behind closed doors.
"The public had paid a lot of money to watch a cricket match and they did not get it, so they might think twice about going back to cricket in the future."
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