ICC, Hot Spot creator apologises for 'wrong' Trott dismissal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly apologised to England after the dismissal of batsman Jonathan Trott for his first golden duck in Test cricket had spoiled another memorable day of Ashes cricket in Nottingham.

According to the Guardian, England had taken an unusual step of seeking clarification from the ICC after Trott had been given out LBW by the third umpire Marais Erasmus, who overruled the original not-out decision of Aleem Dar even though the crucial Hot Spot angle was not available to determine whether the ball had hit bat before pad.

The report further said that England, who was left stumbling at 11 for two in their second innings, was infuriated with the decision and team director Andy Flower immediately demanded an explanation from the match referee.

According to the report, ICC Chief executive Dave Richardson had conceded to the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke that Erasmus had made a mistake.

Along with the ICC, New Zealander Warren Brennan, who adapted the Hot Spot technology for cricket, also apologised to England for the 'mistake', saying that the 'glitch' which cost Trott his wicket was because of 'operator error'.

According to Brannan, the said operator had not triggered the system for the 'Trott delivery' as he was waiting to offer a replay of the previous ball from which Joe Root was given caught behind down the leg side, adding that although such mistakes can be made by anyone, his operator had worked on the system since 2007 and had made this mistake for the first time.

However, England was more distressed by the decision of Erasmus, not only for overturning Dar's not-out decision despite the absence of all necessary evidence but also for reprieving young Australian star Ashton Agar much earlier in another wildly fluctuating day, the report said.

According to the report, England was convinced that Agar, whose 98 was the highest score by a Test number 11, should have been dismissed in single figures when Erasmus turned down a loud stumping appeal.

Although Mitchell Starc's dismissal of Root and Trott then left England in real trouble in their reply, however captain Alastair Cook and injury comeback Kevin Pietersen used their considerable ability and Test experience to bat through the evening session in a patient and disciplined third-wicket stand that has so far added 69 in 34 overs, the report added.