ECB demands reinstatement of referral as snick row rumbles on

The England and Wales Cricket Board today demanded the reinstatement of the umpiring referral they lost in the Graeme Smith controversy in the fourth Test in Johannesburg yesterday. The South Africa captain was given not out after England appealed for a caught-behind decision, and third umpire Daryl Harper declined to overturn the decision on review, claiming he did not hear a noise which was apparent to television viewers. England have rejected the International Cricket Council's explanation of the circumstances surrounding Harper's decision and will seek to recover the referral for future use. Just before lunch today, AB de Villiers inside edged Ryan Sidebottom to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior and was given not out by the on-field umpire Steve Davis, but England were unable to refer the decision. Replays showed that, had they been able to do so, de Villiers would have been given out.