Stiff task for controversial Bowden

[Guest Hiten.]

Perth: New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden, who steps into the super-charged atmosphere of the third Test between Australia and India, is already no stranger to controversy. Bowden, with the crooked finger and eccentric gestures, has previously been written off by the Australians as the world's worst umpire yet he has been tasked with keeping the volatile series on track. His call-up for the Perth Test starting Wednesday to replace the heavily criticised Steve Bucknor came after poor decisions by the West Indian inflamed the volatile second Test. Australia, already 2-0 up in the series, are now ratcheting up the pressure for the third Test with passionate talk of setting a world record 17 consecutive Test wins. Despite the difficult situation, New Zealand Cricket umpires' manager Brian Aldridge says Bowden can take the pressure. "If anyone can handle it Billy can," said Aldridge. "It's a feather in his cap, the fact they (the ICC) have got confidence in him considering the climate they've got at the moment." Bowden will stand in his 42nd test in Perth and already has a sense of the deep emotion between Australia and India after officiating in Australia's 377-run first Test victory. There were no complaints about his performance then but two years ago a poll of Australian cricketers rated Bowden as the worst on the International Cricket Council elite panel. For Brent Fraser "Billy" Bowden, umpiring, and its reported 120,000-dollar salary, came about after his promising playing career was cut short by rheumatoid arthritis in his early 20s. When he arrived on the international scene in March 2000 it was evident a combination of his personality and the disease had produced an animated character at the crease. While his flamboyant gestures left him the target of criticism for grand-standing, they are a by-product of the arthritis which affects his elbow, left wrist and fingers. http://www.cricketnext.com/news/quirky-bowden-charged-with-steadying-series/28917-13.html