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Oval fiasco is history: Doctrove

November 15, 2006 12:53 IST
West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove is keen to put the Oval Test controversy behind him after admitting it was the most difficult moment of his career.

Doctrove partnered Australian Darrell Hair in the August Test match in London that was forfeited by the touring Pakistan side after they were deducted five runs by Hair for alleged ball tampering.

"The period has been a very testing time for me, probably the most testing in my career so far," 51-year-old Doctrove was quoted as saying on the West Indies Cricket Board's official Web site.

Hair, the fourth most-experienced umpire in the history of the sport, was banned by the International Cricket Council earlier this month from umpiring in international matches.

Doctrove, who has stood in nine Tests and 56 one-day internationals, is scheduled to officiate in the one-day

series between hosts South Africa and India starting on Sunday and is looking forward to getting back to work.

"I do not believe that there is any additional pressure placed on me because of what happened at the Oval," Doctrove said.

"What has happened has happened. The controversies are all behind me. I consider them as history and you have to be able to take your bruises, as our local calypso king said.

"You have to take your bruises in life and get up and fight. That is exactly what I am doing. As I said, I am happy to be back out there and I will just go out there and do what I have to do."

Source: REUTERS
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