'We've had trouble with you before' - MS Dhoni to Daryl Harper for banning Praveen Kumar from bowling in his debut Test

Umpiring is one of the toughest jobs in cricket. Despite the technology being available for them, the umpires at times come under the scanner for making an odd mistake which proves to be decisive. There are a few teams or even cricketers who aren’t fond of some of the umpires. Steve Bucknor was the one who wasn’t in the good books of the Indian fans due to his decisions against Sachin Tendulkar and in the infamous Sydney Test.

Apart from him, Australian umpire Daryl Harper has always been in the spotlight especially while officiating in the matches involving India. He too is infamously known for his ‘shoulder before wicket’ dismissal of Tendulkar. Harper himself recalled an incident when MS Dhoni had given him a piece of mind back in 2011. It was Praveen Kumar’s debut Test, and the pacer was banned from bowling by the umpire for running on the pitch.

MS Dhoni wasn’t happy with Daryl Harper

Dhoni, the then India’s Test skipper, wasn’t pleased with Daryl Harper’s decision as he thought the umpire should’ve been a bit lenient on the newcomer. However, Harper pointed out that Praveen Kumar had already played more than 50 ODIs before and was aware of the laws. “Maybe he was letting off steam and hadn’t appreciated me removing Test debutant Praveen Kumar from the attack for repeatedly running down the middle of the pitch into the protected area.

“I recall MS suggesting I should have been more lenient to the newcomer, but Praveen had already played in 52 ODIs before his first Test so he knew the Laws. I have a very good memory and recall MS responding to me when I informed him that the bowler was banned for the rest of the innings,” Daryl Harper said while speaking to Asianet Newsable.

The umpire had earlier banned Ishant Sharma also back in 2000 for running on the pitch, and probably MS Dhoni knew it as well. Daryl Harper exactly remembered the Indian skipper’ words for banning Praveen Kumar, but then he laughed on it and moved on.

“‘We’ve had trouble with you before, Harper,’ were Dhoni’s exact words. I laughed aloud heartily as I wandered away to square-leg which probably wasn’t a respectful response on my behalf,” Harper added.