Ranking 5 worst umpires in cricket history

4. Ashoka de Silva

The nickname ‘A shocker’ probably says it all. I guess! That’s how inconsistent Sri Lanka’s Ashoka de Silva was in his decision making. What was consistent though, was de Silva’s knack of churning out howlers on a daily basis. Ask Matthew Hayden and the Aussie touring party of the 2003 Test series in the Caribbean where the Sri Lankan gave a plethora of shocking decisions.

After giving a couple of howlers in Guyana- including the shocking of a decision to adjudge Justin Langer, another such decision came during the second Test match at the expense of Matthew Hayden when de Silva adjudged him leg-before-wicket when it was clearly visible that the ball had pitched outside the leg-stump, prompting commentator Ian Bishop to say that “He would be slightly embarrassed when he sees the replay”.

And, it all came to a head during the 2011 World Cup where De Silva, whose success rate was less than 50 per cent,  was dropped from officiating in key fixtures of the tournament after several of his decisions were overturned by the DRS.