Moment fed-up cricket umpire storms off the pitch after heated argument with players: ‘See you later’
- Umpire stormed off pitch after altercation during Victorian club cricket match
- Fracas broke out during match between Bulleen Templestowe and St Davids
- Batsman given not out triggered ugly scenes with bowler incensed
- Umpire Bruce Porter walked off waving to players before getting into car
A cricket umpire stormed off the pitch after an altercation broke out when a player refused to walk after appearing to nick the ball.
A Victorian club match between Bulleen Templestowe Cricket Club and St Davids erupted on Saturday after umpire Bruce Porter gave not out to what looked a clear catch.
St Davids players started abusing and swearing at the batsman, who refused to walk, and the umpire, who ultimately walked off the pitch, got into his car and drove away.
Footage from the one-day match shows a Bulleen Templestowe player playing at ball low outside the off stump, with a slight noise audible.
St Davids players cheer in celebration, running in with such confidence they barely appeal.
Umpire Porter remains unmoved, declaring the batsman not out to the shock of the opposition team.
The bowler takes particular objection, hurling obscenities at the batsman before having to be restrained by his teammates.
A Victorian club match between Bulleen Templestowe Cricket Club and St Davids erupted on Saturday after umpire Bruce Porter gave not out to what looked a clear catch
‘Shut up, idiot,’ someone can be heard as St Davids players gesture to the batsman to walk.
The bowler then gets aggressive again with the batter at the non-strikers end, with teammates again having to hold him back.
The umpire can then be seen in the background walking away from the fracas, waving at the players as he leaves.
‘See you later, bye, see you later, bye,’ Porter says in the video.
‘Have a good game.’
The altercation continues even after the umpire has left, before the match was eventually abandoned.
St Davids players started abusing and swearing at the batsman, who refused to walk, and the umpire, who ultimately walked off the pitch, got into his car and drove away
A spokesperson for St Davids said the umpire himself confirmed he was not bullied by any of the players in his report and that the match should have continued.
‘There is no suggestion or allegation of the umpire being bullied, harassed or threatened during the game,’ the statement said.
‘In his report the umpire has not said he was bullied, harassed or threatened during the game.’
Porter is yet to make a formal complaint, with the chairman of the BHRDCA umpires’ association confirming they are investigating.
‘There’s information that we’re still assessing at the moment and the matter is not for discussion,’ Phil Hermann said in a statement.
‘The matter is under investigation and needs to be treated carefully and investigated in the proper manner.’
Former ICC umpire Simon Taufel told Nine News he was ‘very disappointed and shocked’ by the video.
‘It’s a shame to see player behaviour get to the stage where an on-field umpire feels they need to leave the field and leave the players to it,’ he said.